Flower Power: Art Journal Page

I have to admit I love drawing and painting flowers. I've been doodling flowers forever. There are so many possibilities with colors, shapes and lines.

In this journal page, I'm focusing on looking for the positive. Lately I've been hearing so many complaints from my kids. Nothing seems to be right, and certainly I am never right, at least according to them! (Why didn't someone warn me about the teen years before I had kids?). Anyway, it's too late to dwell on that now, so I am reminding myself to look for the flowers. There will always be weeds, but there is also so much that is good and wonderful all around us. I've noticed my own complaining, too, and I'm trying to stop myself and try to set a better example as a parent.

 I had so much fun painting, drawing and doodling this page. I'm afraid it got a little busy, but I like how cheerful it is.

The mysterious figure in the corner is a museum guard, you know those guards who have to sit all day watching to make sure that no one touches or steals the art? I cut the photo out of a magazine because I was intrigued by it. She certainly seems serious. I hope that she gets to see some flowers at some point during her day!

I've been painting lots of floral and garden themed paintings recently. If you're interested in seeing more of my work, go here, or just scroll down my recent posts here in my blog. I also have even more posted at Flickr.

I'm linking this to Art Journal Journey. Check out the other great Flower Power art people are posting there! Thanks so much for visiting my blog. I always appreciate your comments.

Silence -- Art Journal Page

"Enter a place of stillness and simply be where you are: 

not moving forward or backward but simply being utterly present,

 suspended in the space between past and future."

                                                                  Ruth Barrett

Take back your heart - Art Journal Page

This is a page in journal made from a mail art catalog I'd started over a year ago but hadn't finished. After seeing some of the lovely work in Suzi's October Art Journal Journey, I was inspired to join in. The theme is 'she art', which I had to research a bit --  'not sure if I got it right or not, but it was fun anyway -- along with the concept of feminine.

There are many directions to go with this theme. This lovely woman was already on the page and is very feminine to me, along with some flowers, because what could be more feminine than flowers? I started looking through a magazine for words and further inspiration, which lead to the discovery of this image of the earth in hand that I decided would look nice with the overall color scheme.

From there, came the challenge of tying everything together with the theme which somehow brought to mind these words from William Wordsworth: 

The world is too much with us; late and soon,

Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers;—

Little we see in Nature that is ours;

We have given our hearts away,"

Using poetry in my art always makes me happy. Wordsworth wrote this poem in the 1800's and yet his words are perhaps even more relevant for us today than they were during his lifetime. The idea of reclaiming our hearts through a connection with nature seems very beautiful, peaceful and feminine to me. 

Thanks much to Suzi for hosting this challenge, and thank you for visiting my blog. I always love seeing the other beautiful artwork out there, and for your comments.

Peace and Healing Art Journal Page

 This post could be subtitled, "The Real Reason I Haven't Finished Baking Christmas Cookies." Yes, I am prone to procrastination, even in the busiest of times (or perhaps especially in the busiest of times) and today was no exception. The kitchen was a mess, presents were waiting to be wrapped, and cards waiting to be written, yet I was calmly making a journal page. I guess I could blame it on my friend for sharing such a great quote on Facebook, because it really is so wonderful. I could also blame it on Jennibellie's latest tutorial on making a journal page in 15 minutes, which I also decided to watch today. But I think it was a little voice inside me telling me that it really is OK, and maybe even necessary to give ourselves permission to sit down, relax, breathe, and contemplate during this busy, and let's face it, sometimes stressful time of year.

The idea came to me to use this quote which I'd seen earlier and wanted to remember. In this time of so much violence and heartache in our country, and in our world, I found these words so reassuring and inspiring -- healing words to live by and remember now and throughout the coming year.

Thank you to all who have visited my blog this year and commented with such kindess. Best wishes to all of you for a wonderful holiday season and a very happy new year.

Art Journal Page: Thankful

It's Thanksgiving today, a time for gratitude and reflection, not to mention delicious food and family fun. There is so much I am thankful for. As I turned to this journal page I'd started earlier and began to write about my gratitude, I realized that I am more thankful for family and friends than anything else.

Here is the page before I started working on it today. The tape is homemade washi tape I made after watching one of Jennibellie's fabulous tutorials. I certainly am thankful for the generosity  and support of artists I've met online.

My Thanksgiving today ended up being very quiet and peaceful with just my immediate family. I wasn't feeling well, so we had to cancel our plans to join a larger family gathering. We all enjoyed our quiet day at home after a hectic few weeks. Fortunately, I wasn't too sick to sketch and paint a little.

Thank you, for visiting my blog! Your comments are always very much appreciated. I will be gone for part of the weekend, but I will be sure to visit your blogs over the next week.

Art Journal Page: Watch Out!

I was playing around with different styles in September while participating in the 29 faces challenge and this is face #23, a rather cross looking lady who's inspired me to make a quick journal page. I collaged her in, along with my lovely words. No poetry today, folks, just plain old telling it like it is (sometimes).

....Linking to paint party friday. Thanks everyone for looking. I really do feel like being nice most of the time and greatly appreciate your comments. :)

Art Journal Pages: Fall is Here

Lately I've been making an art journal out of a mail order catalog because I can't seem to resist any new idea that comes along and this one looked like fun. It's actually turned out to be quite an undertaking!

 At the same time, I've been reading Pam Carriker's book, Art at the Speed of Life. What I love about her book are the practical strategies for making art a part of  everyday life. One of the projects of the book is a 7-day journal project, which breaks the process of making a mixed media journal page down into steps. I am more of an all or nothing gal who hates to stop a project once it's started, but it's been nice to try a more methodical approach and learn some new techniques at the same time.

Slowing down and only doing one or two steps a day has helped me to relax a bit, rather than feeling I have to frantically get something done while I have a chance. One day I did background painting, then on another day I added some image transfer and collage elements, and on a third day I added texture, and so on. It feels good to have a specific plan for how to work. Taking a break in between steps also gives me time think a little more about what I'm doing and come up with new ideas. I've also been using this idea  with various other in-progress projects as a way to hopefully get some fresh inspiration, move past my mental blocks and finish them.

I didn't really start the journal with a theme, but the change of season and beautiful leaves starting to turn are taking center stage. The lovely words here are from Emily Dickinson. If you're interested, you can read more about this page along with the complete poem in my earlier post.

Thanks so much for stopping by! I always appreciate your comments.