Tap Tap and In My Garden - Art Journal Pages

Hello all!  It's been a while since I had anything to post on my beloved blog, and I have missed it.  Sadly, my dad was diagnosed with cancer in August.  To say that it's been a rollercoaster ride is an understatement.  And even though I know in my head that doing some art would be good therapy for me, I also knew that my heart just wasn't in it.  However, I think I've finally reached the point where I *need* to make some art.

So tonight I went to an "art journal junkie hangout" at a local art studio.  This was not a class, but simply an evening to spend working in your art journal.  Now, I would not say that I am an art journaler.  It's something I aspire to, and I have several different journals that I've started working in (one dating back three years already!), but I just haven't been able to establish a routine and stick with it.  Still, I haven't given up on myself.

I threw that old journal and a bunch of supplies into a tote bag and headed out for a fun evening with 10 other art journal enthusiasts.  One of the main supplies I took was a 12x12 plastic container stuffed full of paper scraps left over from previous projects.  In that container I found this woodpecker illustration and some sheet music with the lyrics "Tap, tap, my sturdy fellow."  I used watercolor pencils to extend the tree to the top of the page. That's some washi tape on the left side.

The other half of the spread features the remnants of a watercolor painting I did a year ago, a butterfly cut out of some Tim Holtz tissue paper, scrapbooking paper and the title of a song.  I actually did this page first.  Oh, and I should tell you that both of these pages already had some green patterned papers glued onto them, that I covered up with a layer of white gesso.

I'm not sure if either page is fully done yet, but for tonight I can't think of anything more I want to add to them, and I'm not going to force the issue.  The main thing is that I enjoyed myself tonight and created two pages that make me happy.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great day.

Supplies:
Strathmore 5x8 Visual Journal and other supplies as noted above.

Birthday Milkshake - Art Journal Page

In a previous post, I told you about the tin of opaque watercolors I got at an estate sale.  On that same day we stopped at a couple of garage sales and I found a 2014 Barnes and Noble hardbound desk diary for a buck.  At that price I figured I'd get some use out of it even if it's May already.  So I gessoed a few pages and after much internal debate, decided to make this mainly a painting and drawing journal, not a collage journal.  That way the pages will stay relatively thin and the book will close even as it fills up.

On the left side is a rendition of my new tin of watercolors!  It's not quite to scale but I don't care.  I'm not going for perfection here, and I *love* how freeing that is!  The inside of the paint lid turned out great--it looks like the original which is slightly stained from having paints mixed on it.  I also added a paintbrush.  On the right side is the chocolate milkshake I had at dinner Friday night.  We wanted to go out for ice cream on my birthday, but there aren't any old-fashioned diners in our town anymore where you can get a real milkshake.  So the next night we drove 60 miles round trip to eat dinner at a Steak and Shake, just so we could get milkshakes!  I ordered their Hersey's Special Dark shake which comes with whipped cream, mini chocolate chips, and of course a cherry on top.  It was thick and VERY delicious.

I still need to add my journaling to this spread before I call it finished.  It was a busy week so I'll focus on just the highlights, so my writing doesn't overpower the painting.

I hope you're enjoying your weekend.  Thanks for 
popping by!

Supplies:
Barnes and Noble 2014  Desk Diary (hardboard); Golden white gesso; Grumbacher opaque watercolors.

Nutty! Art Journal Page

This journal page was inspired by the week 16 challenge on The Documented Life Project:  add a cardboard food box in a creative way.

I started by adhering some paper scraps from recent projects (which killed two birds with one stone: cleaning up my craft table AND hiding some obnoxious orange paint already on the page.  I had such high hopes for that orange background, as you can tell from this post.  But it's been over a year and it still wasn't speaking to me, so the orange had to go!).  I added a layer of white gesso over the paper scraps, then went to the recycling bin and pulled out a Little Debbie Nutty Bars box I had thrown in earlier.  You can probably figure out which rabbit hole I fell down after that.

Thanks for popping by!  Have a fabulous day.

Supplies:
Strathmore 5.5 x 8 Visual Journal (Mixed Media); Liquitex Basics acrylic paint; gesso; paper scraps; Sharpie Paint Pens; letter stickers; stencil; vintage dictionary page; punchinella; Nutty Bars box.

Twirling Swirling Whirling - Art Journal Page

I created this art journal page using a bunch of paper scraps left over from previous projects and a variety of wet media including acrylic paint, Gelatos, and artist pens.  I didn't know where I was going with this page when I started, so I just played it fast and loose.  That's always a challenge for me.  I really like how the background swirls turned out.  I layered red Gelatos with white acrylic paint, added some doodles in black, and finished with wild swirls of shiny gold.

Thank goodness this cold, snowy February is almost over.  Come on spring!
 
Supplies:
Strathmore 5.5 x 8 inch Visual Journal with 140 lb watercolor paper; patterned papers by My Mind's Eye; floral notecard of handmade paper; Liquitex white, raw umber, and naples yellow hue acrylic paint; Sharpie red and black paint pens; Faber-Castell black and gold Pitt artist pens; Gelatos, Niji waterbrushes.

Orange You Glad...

...I didn't tell you a lame knock-knock joke?  Instead, I'm going to show you some journal page backgrounds I created using my leftover orange paint.  To create this vibrant color I mixed cadmium red medium and cadmium yellow deep acrylic paint (Liquitex Basics).  I used an old credit card to apply the paint to the pages.

On the left side, I first applied a fairly even layer of paint.  Then, by pressing the short side of the credit card into the paint (slowly and with some pressure) and lifting straight up, I got a fabulous texture of delicate veins and lines.  On the right side, I swooshed the credit card back and forth like I was frosting a cake.  Applying varying pressure results in a gradation of color and texture, as well as a fun pattern.

Here is a close up view of the left side.

It's likely that some or most of these backgrounds will end up covered by other media, but a good foundation is essential and sets the tone for the rest of the page.  These backgrounds scream "energy," so I can't wait to see what happens next.

Thanks for popping in!

Supplies:
Strathmore Visual Journal Mixed Media vellum finish; Liquitex Basics acrylic paint: cad yellow deep and cad red medium; old credit card.

What's Best For You?

This art journal page grew out of a need I felt late last night to create something, anything, in an effort to pull myself out of the slump I've been in. 

I had no particular idea in mind for this page when I started.  I first glued a variety of vintage paper scraps to the page, then added some white acrylic paint, distress ink, rubber stamping, and oil pastels.  I doodled with my Sharpie paint pens along the top and bottom, didn't like how it looked, so I covered it up with some additional sheet music.  Once I had my background, I went searching for an image or text to serve as a focal point.  I looked through a folder of magazine and newspaper clippings that my grandmother had collected.  Most of the articles pertain to gardening, landscaping, or house plants.  For some reason, just a portion of one headline jumped out at me, "What's...best...for you?"

It's got me thinking.

Supplies:
Strathmore Visual Journal (watercolor 140 lb paper); miscellaneous vintage paper scraps; white acrylic paint; spun sugar, aged mahogany, and broken china distress ink; Stazon black ink; rubber stamps by Tim Holtz and Hero Arts; oil pastels; fine tip Sharpie marker; text from an old newspaper article.

O Give Me A Place - Art Journal Page

I have never been one to keep a journal or diary.  I've tried on more than one occasion (as a child and as an adult), but I guess I didn't find it very enjoyable and I could never keep one going.  I don't think this tiger is going to change her stripes any time soon, but I do have a renewed interest in journaling--art journaling, that is.

I stumbled across an art journal thread on ATCs for All and decided to try one of the prompts provided.  My page is rather plain and child-like, but I had fun making it and as a first attempt, I'm pleased with the result.  The quote is from a poem by Arthur Eaton (1859-1937).  I chose it because I've really enjoyed spending time in our yard this year.

I used distress inks to create my background, misting them just a little with water to blend.  The stems and leaves were made with watercolor pencils.  

Thanks for dropping in!  Have a great day.

Supplies:
Strathmore Visual Journal with 140 lb watercolor paper; distress inks: stormy sky, mustard seed, peeled paint, brushed corduroy, spiced marmalade and barn door; Derwent light charcoal pencil; Derwent Watercolour pencils; round punches; spiral clips; spray mister; water brush; permanent black marker; Stazon black ink.

Fraulein Collage

I made this collage in my visual journal using ideas provided by Mary Green in her February Green Paper Collage Club.  Because I am still developing my collage skills, I find it invaluable to have Mary's prompts and instructions.

I collaged a variety of vintage papers directly to my journal page using the blended paper technique, stamped the flourishes, and added some distress ink.  The German postage stamps were in a package of goodies from fellow collage artist Marie of Lost Bird Studio.  The photo was free clipart in a Somerset Studio magazine.

Looks like I'll have to shovel a little snow today.  Thankfully it's not too deep.  Have a great day!

Supplies:
Strathmore Visual Journal (watercolor 140 lb); various vintage text from a dictionary, geography textbook, sheet music, German prayer book, 1920s poetry book; white acrylic paint; frayed burlap and vintage photo distress ink; Stazon black ink; flourish stamps by Hero Arts, Inque Boutique, and The Unity Stamp Company; German postage stamps; free clipart photo; light charcoal pencil; matte gel medium.

The Boy Who Would Be King Collage

I've been itching to get back into making gluebook pages and I really want to get over my fear of tackling larger, mixed media collages on canvas.  The solution came to me last weekend at Hobby Lobby, when I saw these Strathmore Visual Journals on sale.  I bought the journal with 140 pound watercolor paper because it will hold up to multi-layer collages, acrylic paint, embellishments, and whatever else I want to add to it.  Let the experimenting begin!

This 5x8 inch collage was inspired by the title of a book that was in a stack of ephemera from fellow artist Barb.  The background page and Tutenkhamon image are from a 1930s art textbook that I bought last month at a flea market.  The nine refers to the fact that Tutenkhamon ascended to the throne when he was just nine years old.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Strathmore Visual Journal with 140 lb. watercolor paper; royal ruby and glorious gold metallic paint by DecoArt; white acrylic paint; Golden gel medium; text and images from a 1930s art textbook; title from an unknown book; gold chipboard "thickers" letter by American crafts; medium charcoal pencil.