Duo Dynamic

Adding depth on the page and in the experience and breaking out of journaling solo today. My fellow journal artist enhanced this experience. Talking. Not talking. Seeing how the other used materials. Talking about life and letting some of it fly onto the page. Letting some of it go. Great for the spirit and for the page. Each step I take I love more. I have no idea where I am headed, but I see with each element I add the whole becomes more dynamic. Sometimes it takes two. The creator and the viewer. I'd like to join others in art journaling, but have no idea about how to find others who have this obsession. 

Adding Sparkle

Adding layers to my page seemed at once exciting and frightening. I like what I have so far, what if I mess it up?

That kind of thinking steals so much joy out of life, doesn't it? We never reach out for fear of making mistakes. We never take the trip, meet the friend, learn something new. What if we make mistakes? 

Also I was having a crisis of style and philosophy. I have watched a number of art journal ly videos and had come to feel I didn't want to use pre-made stencils and paper designs. I was more draw to the remix/remake/recycle vibe. But I did like the effect of stencils. I settled for using some basic geometric stencils from the craft store. Balance in all things. 

I added the stencil work and tried smudging the green into the background. Here I must admit to failure . The smudging was a clear fail...that is it is a fail if I plan to leave it as it is. So my current fail becomes tomorrow's opportunity. To remember that I added some pink paint spots and shook on purple glitter. It's time to shine.

Can't wait to see where I take it next.

Adding Watercolor Pencil

Today I added watercolor pencil to my journal page. I doubt I'll be sharing the step by step process for all my entries, but I am very excited to be starting art journaling. It is something I've wanted to try for a long time. 

After giving it a start I wonder why I have waited so long to get started. Of course I know, the first steps are often the hardest. You don't really know what it entails until you get started. New things are notoriously more difficult than you imagine they will be. 

Adding marks on top of my paint with the watercolor pencil felt both freeing and wrong at the same time. I felt a little like I was participating in graffiti. After crosshatching along the elements I used a cotton swab to add the water and mix the pencil into paint. I think the effect worked very nicely….much better than I had imagined. 

Not at all sure what will come next, but I've been thinking that for the past two days. 

Adding Depth

Yesterday I put down color. Today I added depth. I used a paint trowel, a packing peanut and my fingers. I found a rhythm, a groove, a momentum and freedom I haven't felt in the creative process for some time. It was fun and refreshing. 

When I first looked at it I didn't think I liked it, though I tried to look without judgement. I worried about covering the pink and yellow that I loved so much. As I look at it several hours later I love it. I love the colors and the motion. I love how it embodies the theme I'm going for. 

I'm eager to see how it evolves and changes.

For now I'll just soak up the vibes and wallow in color.

Jumping In

I have long been interested in Art Journaling. My Pinterest board of that name tells part of the story of my fascination. 

Today I watched a video from an Art Journaler, Raemissigman, who shows what can be done in 15 minutes. It made me think. 

So I decided that today was the day. The commitment was just to lay down some color on the page. That was all. That was enough. 

That was fun.

I plan to do it again.

Giving Way to Thankfulness

Last week I was invited by a dear artist friend to participate in Flood the Streets With Art. FSWA is the brainchild of Scott Wong. The grassroots art event challenges artists all over the world to counteract the Black Friday Madness by giving away a piece of their art - Free. And to whomever finds it.  
https://www.facebook.com/events/649474495168252/

It fits in very nicely with the sort of thing that I love over at Kind Over Matter.

To tell the truth, I've not been creating much lately. I've been a bit overwhelmed and under-creative. I was kind of in an art slump. The invitation revitalized me, however, and though it was just a small thing I completed a broach that I hope someone is enjoying right now. I hope it is just the right sort of person. I'm tempted to go back to the grocery store where I left it to see if it is still there. 

I am so thankful that this opportunity came my way. It shook me out of my stupor and got me moving. Giving away things always makes me feel grateful. What a wonderful way to experience Thanksgiving. 

Tea Party Rain Check

It's what? 

Vanessa Valencia's Mad Tea Party?

http://afancifultwist.typepad.com

Really? 

Already? 

Well then, I guess I'm swimming in it again. 

I fear we're late for the party. 

Wouldn't be the first time. 

For all those hosting parties, we tip our hats to you. Thanks for all the wonderful posts for us to enjoy this year. If you aren't familiar with Vanessa's Mad Tea Parties, I encourage you to check them out. Click on the invitation above to be whisked away to her magical world. 

(Photos enhanced with a combination of apps - Snapeee and Bazaart)

Flowers for you

A few weeks ago I made my yearly sojourn to Hartford to Elizabeth Park to see the roses. It was a lovely day and the fragrance of the roses could be smelled before you even entered the garden.

Perfection!

Being Happier

 

I started this blog after reading The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. Actually it was the second time I had read it. I decided that more happiness was something I could live with. Also, found that I loved blogging and wanted to add more visuals to my blog Purple Glasses Club, a blog about school libraries, children's books and technology. I bought a great camera and started taking tons of photos, none of them matching my professional writing. A happiness blog seemed just the ticket. 

While my life has transformed in ways I could not have imagined and I have blogged rather sporadically, I still love posting my happy things. There have been so many posts I meant to write, so many beautiful photos I intended to share, but the thinking and dreaming, the mulling subjects of joy and delight over I my brain has added greatly to my own happiness. It may be selfish, but I do not regret claiming joy even when it is destined to be my lonely satisfaction.

Recently I stumbled across an app that ramps up my joy reflection perfectly. Happier is an app the whole purpose of which is recording and sharing happiness. A note on the app indicates that research has determined that people who write down 3 things they are grateful for each day are happier than those that do not.

It's like Twitter for happiness. Instead of liking or retweeting, you smile at posts. Every time you post a happy event confetti streams down. I won't bother to tell you what happens when you post 3 times in a day, you'll want to discover that for yourself.

So I'm thinking of short happy thoughts to add to my list because I just love seeing the confetti.

Please come for Tea

Beautiful tea cups waiting on the shelf for you to come over for tea. Have a cuppa and pretend we are sitting together exchanging stories.