January--Lifebook 2021--Art Journaling

 Wow, can't believe we got through 2020--let's hope this year will start to turn around and we can get some normalcy back--although I'm so used to living this way--that it now seems the normal way  :-)  I'm just happy that I'm able to do what makes me the happiest and content--it really does make a difference to find that in your life and make time for it everyday!

So now that Christmas craziness is over with and the quiet month of January has settled in I've been able to do the same thing--settling in--in my art room and playing.  

And this year I'm so happy that I decided to sign up for Lifebook 2021 hosted by the wonderful Tamara Laporte.  I haven't been in it for a couple of years, but this year I knew I needed to make some art for just me.

Our first lesson was with Tamara--our goddess of light--

Love all the layers and texture--it was just fun to play with different mediums.  And the next lesson from Tamara--our happy owl--

I took it in a little different direction from hers, but loved her owl design and kept to that.

So the next week's lesson (yes there is a new lesson every week with 32 different instructors!) was with Cinnamon Cooney

Again, I put my own spin on this piece--except for the tree girl--I love her!

And I've been playing around with different art supplies--I decided to give charcoal a 2nd chance.  A few years ago I used it and gave up on it--I didn't like the messiness of it.  But this time I got past that and discovered it's fun and forgiving!

Definitely will be  experimenting with these pencils some more--I like the way they work with other mediums.   And the best way to experiment is where else, but your journal.  I'm committed to the one I started last year when the quarantine started, and I'm getting there--adding more pages--

....mostly faces, which I love to do and when it's in my journal I have more freedom to play around, because that's what a journal is--a place to experiment in--this is what I like to put in my journal--painted faces!  and playing with different art mediums.  I think my favorite thing about art journaling is that they are all unique with each artist--it's each person's own individual voice coming out--in words, or paintings, or marks or whatever--no rules--love that!

I've also been making other art that's now in my Etsy shop.

Altered a cigar box with one of my journal girl images--

some of my whimsy art on 6 x 6 surfaces--

this one has a polymer clay bird that I had made some time ago--I found the right home for her

and also some assemblages

I really enjoy making vintage children themed art like this--I just like the nostalgia of it.

So these pieces are all available and you can find them HERE

 

This has pretty much been my month in the art department of my life--my favorite department!  :-)

Hope where ever you are life is good for you and getting back to a happier time!

Intuitive Painting

Painting  with  your  intuition--I  have  a  real  big  problem  with  that.  When  I  try,  I  get  more  frustrated--I  usually  will  end  up  with  some  kind  of  art  that  I'm  happy  with--basically  you  don't  stop  adding  layers  or  whatever  until  your  happy  with  it.   But  you're  supposed  to  enjoy  the  process  or  'journey',  and  I  don't,  which  means  I  like  to  have  a  plan  before  I  start  anything--just  the  way  my  mind  works.

And  then  came  along  week  6  of  Life Book  with  Tam's  lesson,  it  is  exactly  the  type  of  'intuitive'  painting  that  fits  me.   I  really  don't  want  to  get  into  the  details  too  much,  since  this  was  Tamara  Laporte's  technique  taught  to  us--but  all  I  can  say  is  that  if  you're  looking  for  a  diverse  mixed  media  year  long  class  with  many  different  familiar  artists--then  this  is  the  place  for  you.

So  a  little  peek  of  the WIP  for  my  first  piece  that  came  out  of  this  lesson--

If  you're  not  familiar  with  Life  book--the  basis  is  to  make    journal  pages  from  the  lessons  you  learn each  week,  and  at  the  end  of  the  year,  you  put  them  together  to  make  a  journal--Life Book 2015.    But  I  really  don't  journal  in  this  way  ( I  really  don't  journal  much  at  all)--so  in  my  way--I  put  it  on  canvas--

(my  way  of  journaling)--but  back  to  this  particular  lesson--I  like  to  call  it  a  planned  intuitive  painting,  if  that  makes  sense.   There  was  a  step-by-step  process  to  this  piece,  but  by  the  end,  you  just  get  into  the  flow,  and I  got  out  of  my  own  way   and  really  let  my  intuition  take  over--I  loved  painting  this  way.

Another  'planned  intuitive'  piece--

...on  a  10 x 20  gallery  canvas

lots of layers--which makes great texture--

And next,  I  decided  to  do  this  technique  on  a  mirror  frame--the  start--

...and  the  finish--

--I  love  it--a  new  way  of  laying  down  your  paint  and  etc.--thank you  Tam   for  an  awesome  lesson!