Daily Pages

I find my daily journal pages to be essential.  Not only do they keep me grounded and enhance my creativity, but I've found it's also just a great thing ~ to write down my thoughts in a more unstructured, free-flowing manner.  Not all of my pages in these "daily" journals involve media other than just pen and paper, as the goal is to let the thoughts come, and to record them.  I have, of course, used collage to enhance the front of my journals.  Not only do I enjoy this, but it keeps my journals separate and individual.  While my first art journal is a mixed-media page notebook, my daily journals are not.  Both were EXCELLENT finds, as I bought them on clearance after the school-supply rush: they were about 50 cents each!  And they are different - one has sleeves on the inside where I can slip in inspirational things I find.  To prepare the covers for collage, I first added a layer of gesso, to "strengthen" it, as well as somewhat cover the existing pattern.  I then did some paint and collage work.  For the inside pages, when I do feel like doing more than just using pen, I again use gesso to reinforce the paper, and prep it for paint, etc.

Journal away!
~R

Creating With Flea Market Finds

Flea markets are a GREAT place to find interesting things with which to create.  They offer the unusual, which requires some imagination to envision a creative application, and the truly antique and unique, which are beautiful in and of themselves, but still can be individualized by you.  Recently I found 3 small wooden plaques for $2.00.  On them, someone had painted some tomatoes, corn, and carrots.  I was able to negotiate the price down to $1.50 (another benefit of flea markets!) and brought home my "treasures".  My family thought I was absolutely nuts for purchasing something that did not at all go with the decor of our house.  However, I had big plans.  First, I put on a good coat of gesso.  Then, after the gesso dried, I applied a coat of Distress Crackle Paint in "vintage photo", using a true sponge applicator.  After, that dried, I then applied a minor coat of Distress Crackle Paint in "antique linen".  The effect was wonderful!  At a used book store (another GREAT place to shop!) I had purchased a book of true vintage photos of children with their dogs.  I tore around the edges, and further aged the edges using Distress Ink in "walnut stain".  I used decoupage to adhere the photos to the wooden plaques, but also added textured copper brads to add interest.  I also had a book from my favorite used book store that was full of quotes about dogs.  I chose 3, and cut them from the book.  Since the paper they were on was bright white, I aged the paper with the antique linen.  I then tore the edges, and aged them with the walnut stain.  I adhered the quotes near the bottom of the photos using decoupage (all with a glossy finish) and went on to decoupage the entire project.  Results - a finished project that my whole family agreed was "cool", and will be hanging in the house!

Embrace the creative life!

~Rebecca

The Joy of "Mistakes"

One of the things I love about the types of art I practice is their forgiveness - when mistakes are made.  For example, last night, VERY late at night, I was working on what I was planning to be my "favorite" creation so far.  And, guess what?  I made a mistake.  Now, it could have been due to the late hour, or perhaps it was just because mistakes happen, and what is envisioned doesn't always come out as planned.  The first disaster involved gesso.  Yes - I was decoupaging and accidentally used GESSO instead of modge podge!  AGGGGGHH!  Though I was at first tempted to give up on the project all together, I worked ahead on ways to salvage it.  I learned that a tiny bit of Windex on a paper towel can remove some gesso, and what still remained actually gave my project an interesting bit of texture.  As I took a closer look at my project, and decided I just didn't like several elements of it, instead of giving up, I continued on.  The advantages of working with mixed media and modge podge allow you to remove some items.  Yes, there may be tearing in the process, but decoupaging is all about layering anyway.  But I went ahead, removed what I didn't like, found replacements that I DID like, and covered up any tears in the paper in the process.  Meanwhile, any of the gesso that was still left behind actually gave the project a  nice, aged-type look.  In the end, I exceeded my hoped for the project in general!  So - NEVER GIVE UP!  Whether it be your life or your art, it's ALWAYS in process, with many options to try!!!

Embrace the creative life!

~Rebecca

The Magic of the Art Journal

I experienced the "magic" of the art journal over the past year or so, as I was going through some of the darkest times of my life.  During a relative short period of time, several of my friends and relatives passed away, I was laid low with chronic illness which kept me from living the active life I love, and my marriage hit the rocks.  Add to this, my oldest son was diagnosed with an "unidentified" autoimmune disorder - one which was affecting his digestion, his skin, and causing him to lose his hair.  I am the kind of person who keeps stress bottled up inside, but this amount was just too much, and I slipped towards depression.  While seeking help for my stress, anxiety, and depression, I was introduced to art journaling.  And it changed my life!!  Never being one who was comfortable talking about her problems, I found an incredible freedom in expressing them on my art journal pages - using my own words, some chosen poems, and various items for collage that truly expressed how I felt.  The effects were amazing.  All that I had been keeping inside was finally let go - and I was free to find myself again.  To this day, I am still a faithful, DAILY journal keeper.  I start my morning with "morning" journal pages, and end my day with "evening" journal pages.  And, along the way, I also add art - in the form of collage, paint, oil pastel, etc. - any mixed media is represented in my journals.  Another major benefit of my journey into art journaling - I was able to find and release the artist within me.  I now set aside scheduled time during the day to work on other art projects as well.  It had been literally years and years since I had even sketched, and art journaling opened up my artistic self, once again allowing me the pure, simple joy of creating.  And quite often the process of creating will address issues in your life, past and present, that need "clearing" as well.  I cannot sing the praises of art journaling nearly enough.  As I develop this blog, I will share with you quotes, techniques, unique ideas, as well as pictures of my work.  It is my hope that you too will find your own personal journey of recovery here.

Embrace the creative life~

Rebecca