Archive for February, 2011
Art Journaling Every Day - Week Day 1
Art Journaling Every Day is 10 minutes a day. First day of this week (Friday) Covered double page spread with text and shapes.
Second day apply 2 thin coats of gesso – let dry overnight – looks almost the same as the gesso is very thin.
Third day make ink lines and circles for another layer of depth.
Note – I am following directions on one of the links in the Art Journaling Every Day.
Art Journaling Every Day - Third Day this week - Sunday
Here is the link with Julie Fei-Fan Balzer‘s tutorial. Remember I’m trying out new stuff and other people’s methods to see what I like, what I want to keep as my own and what I want to tweak and keep…FUN
White-on-White, stencil-mask-gesso sandwich
Below, the white-on-white is really hard to photograph – duh, but here is how it goes.
1. Cut out a shape, seal the shape with gesso and let dry thoroughly
2. On dried shapes lay a mask of the same or similar shape (smaller) to mask the middle of the shape.
3. Put a stencil over the two layers and with a palette knife lay on more gesso.
4. Carefully lift stencil and mask and let dry again.
This now leaves a shape with a raised frame. Note: bottom right (above) is one of the mask pieces before washing off the gesso – it was so pretty!
To be Continued
First Layer of Glimmer Mist and then with the smudged on teal detail begins to show
Corner detail of finished piece with 3 layers of paint
Between the Sketchbook Challenge and Art Journaling Every Day – I needed to come up with more subject matter, or inspiration if you please, more material to keep me interested in practicing sketching, doodling, painting, journaling, you know, my artistic growth. I decided we MUST go to the zoo.
Art Journaling Every Day - At the Zoo
It was the first time I’ve been to the zoo without any children in over 30 years. It was SO FUN! I saw exhibits I didn’t know were there – even though we have gone many times since we moved here in 1990. I had so much fun that we bought a Zoo membership for a year!
"Monkey's Stand for Honesty" At the Zoo
I prepped some pages ala Art Journaling Every Day and glued in a Zoo map. As I was fooling around I started humming the Simon and Garfunkel tune At the Zoo and decided that this would be a great theme for this journal.
Giraffes are Insincere - At the Zoo
I particularly wanted to use the animal patterns and the wall patterns for something like my ATC zen-tangles.
Zebras are Reactionaries - At the Zoo-oo
Ithought I would have time to sketch and sit around if we went every week. At this point we have gone twice and each time I’ve been so wonder-struck I haven’t been able to do more than take some pictures to use for practice sketching and watercolor etc.
No Tigers in the Song - At the Zoo
Motivation is low when the temperatures are low – just want to hibernate. February started out in the minuses, as in minus seven degrees – AAACCCKKK! I had to do something!
So I joined up with Julie Fei-Fan’s online Art Journaling Every Day. And I find myself motivated again. Whew.
Art Journaling Every Day - has consequences
The idea of Art Journaling Every Day is that you do something for 10 minutes on an art journal every day. This fits for me. Also she admits to having more than one journal going at a time – bingo – this also fits me. Tip: leave the journal and basic supplies out so you don’t waste your ten minutes hunting for supplies or ephemera.
Painty, Collage-ish, Doodler
Julie categorizes Art Journaling into 5 types of journalers and I find myself in four of the five categories. LOL. Some of the types can be done in the same journal, and some need their own journal. And generally they all have to dry or sit and cool off (just joking). Thus the state of my table – I think there are 4 journals PLUS my sketchbook in flux at all times.
Art Journaling Every Day - Painty
Above: Acrylic paints, white scraped on with plastic card then stamped with paper towel rolls for the circles and then thread spools inside the circles. Lastly I added layer of gloss gel medium to strengthen the page. This was a mistake as I don’t want it so shiny…I’ll think of something.
Art Journaling Every Day - Wordy
The above journal is one I made while trying to figure out Teesha Moore’s method of journaling. I haven’t done much writing in it yet so I will use it for my “wordy” art journaling. Note to self: DATE YOUR PAGES!
It's official, now I'm all five types. Scrapbookish because of the paper scraps.
I find that not only am I motivated for the ten minutes a day, once I get started I keep going. The five categories give me permission to do what I am thinking about or what fits for this particular day. Art Journaling every day along with the Sketchbook Challenge push me to do what I love to do and to do it enough that I have at least a chance of getting better at my art.
Art Journal Every Day - Doodler
Alley Cats and Prairie Dogs - Colorado Opposites
My niece suggested a variation of cats as an opposite of dogs which got my mind to work on what cat would be an opposite of the prairie dog and the more I thought of it the better alley cats fit the bill.
Cities abhor prairie dogs, they might disclaim alley cats, but despite Animal Control, alley cats thrive in the urban settings. Many municipalities have active prairie dog eradication programs and anyone that has lived in Colorado knows about the Prairie Dog controversies.
The large metropolitan corridor that follows I-25 through the state, particularly where it intersects with I-70 is ultimate urban sprawl. There is no room for prairie dogs, even in the open spaces. The current municipal regulations view prairie dogs as a nuisance and pests that interrupt the flow of Kentucky Blue.
Why did I want an opposite of Prairie Dog? So I could use my ‘Ground Dogs‘ sketch from earlier this month of course. And then there was the fact that I had carved a rubber stamp of a fairly ferocious looking cat and wanted to use that too.
My sketchbook seems to be turning into an Art Journal despite my best efforts. I LOVE making all the elements of the collage be from my own art! It makes for fewer elements at this point, but this one includes a sketch, a watercolor, and a hand-carved stamp!
Denver Skyline with Mountains
Growing in confidence now as I daringly did a sketch and painted it right in the sketchbook! I know, I know, that is what a sketchbook is for – still seems daunting to me.
The theme “Opposites,” is tricky in my mind. I could go light and dark or soft and hard or you name it, but I have an idea – bear with me. The skyline sketch is the next part of my “Opposites” piece.
Sketchbook Challenge February
Since we don’t have Ground Hogs in Colorado I thought I could substitute a Prairie Dog, although maybe I should use a Marmot. I checked the internet and good old Punxsutawney Phil – braved the weather and did not leave a shadow. That means an early spring – I know I am not the only one breathing a sigh of relief.
Okay enough of the woo-woo. The Sketchbook Challenge Theme for February is “Opposites.” I am pretty sure the purpose of the challenge is to get people sketching on a regular basis. So I am fulfilling the purpose – anyone have any ideas on what could be an opposite to ‘ground dogs?’ so I can fulfill on the theme?
Guess I’ll just have to keep sketching until I figure something out. Thanks for stopping by and cross your fingers for warmer weather i.e. spring – soon.
