Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Word Art Wednesday - June 27, 2012



I'm not one to make art focused on myself -- but the verse for this week is just so applicable to my life that I decided to make myself associate it with me in this week's Word Art Wednesday challenge:



This cancer journey is not fun. Sometimes it's very discouraging. It's easier to have a happy heart about it all when I'm feeling well -- but lately I've been feeling pretty lousy. When I feel lousy,  hope is less bright. But this verse reminds me that God has GOOD plans for my life, and the future holds the fulfillment of those plans!


I'm sure that this verse has significance for your life, too! Create a piece of art about it (or any other inspirational verse), and you could win something from Eclectic Anthology.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

A Delightful Conspiracy

I think there is a conspiracy afoot. 


My husband came home from work today and exclaimed, "Has the world gotten together and said, 'Send Paula something in the mail!'?"


I hardly ever receive snail mail. Yesterday, I had a lovely letter from my Aunt Helen and a sweet thank you card from Phyl. Today, I received this beautiful handmade card from Karen, one of my fellow Word Art Wednesday Design Team members (the turtle made me laugh out loud!): 






And, I received a large package from the Netherlands! Look at what was inside!



The wonderful Wendy Swenne, another Word Art Wednesday Design Team member, MADE this awesome journal -- especially for me! An amazing four-page letter (handwritten!) outlined the details of how she'd chosen each element with me in mind!!!! I tell you -- it took a long time for the tears to stop welling up -- I was so moved by her thoughtfulness. As you can see, she also sent me some beautiful stamps and embellishments. 





Other wonderful artist friends from the Christian Paper Artists yahoo group sent me bits of their artistic loveliness in the fall, too. I can't tell you how much it means to me that people are thinking of me, and taking the time to make special things for me! I have been feeling generally unwell of late, and it is such a boost to my spirits to receive these wonderful gifts from the heart!


THANK YOU to all of you that have blessed me with your wonderful creativity!!!!!




Monday, June 25, 2012

Joy Journal Project


For years now, I've been collecting books and reading blogs about art journaling -- but I've never actually started an art journal that documents my life in some way. This past year, I've also spent a lot of time thinking about joy, and recognizing the link between joy and gratitude. When I came upon Amanda Jolley's Joy Journal Project the other week, I realized it presented the perfect opportunity for me to start art journaling with a purpose. And because it's a once-a-month class, it seems manageable for me. If I get behind -- it will be easy enough to catch up.


The first assignment was to journal about someone that brings joy to our lives. Since my husband and I will be celebrating our 21st wedding anniversary next month, and since he still lights up my life -- I chose to journal about him. After gessoing the page, I started by free-writing about how wonderful he is. That all got covered in paint -- but it got the creative juices flowing -- and I know it's under there! Outside of layers of paint, ink, and metallic crayon, I simply used a couple of photos and a bit of scrapbooking paper (the numbers -- which are representative of days and years of joy together) and added some text. 

I love the idea of altering books, so I chose this library discard as my Joy Journal base. It's thin enough that it's not intimidating -- but it has enough room for about a year's worth of monthly journal spreads. I plan to alter the cover, of course -- but I'm not sure how I will go about that yet.


Have you ever tried art journaling? What are your favourite tools and techniques? How do you find it differs from regular journaling?

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Is it done yet?

I worked a bit more on my collage today, taking the advice of my friends in the comments below yesterday's post :)




I'm still not quite satisfied because it doesn't look balanced -- but I like it better. 


Any more suggestions? Or should I leave it and chock it up to a process piece (as opposed to a satisfying product)? I do like my birdies -- though the one on the right is a bit too Spidermanish in colour ;) (Unfortunately, the photo doesn't show the silver highlights on the birds and leaves. I outlined all the black lines with silver gel pen, which adds a neat effect.)


Now it is time to rest.


Friday, June 15, 2012

Pretty, Pretty -- Everywhere

I have lots of friends who are great at blessing others! During this hospital stay, two of my sweet friends found ways to bless me in creative ways. One friend brought me a bouquet of flowers -- but because she knows I like to "spread the love," she took the time to decorate a few empty juice bottles so I could share my flowers! 



Are these not so sweet? I only have one left now because I've distributed two to ladies on the floor that look like they could use a little prettiness to look at. 


And you know, it really helps me to do that. Today I was starting to get warn down -- by the drugs, some side effects, and the sadness that pervades the cancer wing in a hospital. There are sad, sick people all over the place. That takes a toll on a soul's view of the world. So what a blessing it was to change my negative thought pattern and get out and bless someone else. Thank you, Caralyn, for enabling me to do that in such a lovely way!



Another friend who has traveled her own cancer journey read in my journal that I was cold. So when she came to visit me, she brought this beautiful blanket that she made from those little dollar store throws you can buy:



So beautiful, don't you think?!?!?! And so wonderfully cozy! Many, many people have walked into the room and exclaimed at the beauty that Susan has brought to this little space with that blanket, and the lovely quilt (peeking out from under the blanket) she gave me for these hospital stays . Thank you, Susan, for the blessing of your creativity!


Today I felt like exercising my own creativity. I was flipping through my Drawing Lab book for inspiration, and didn't I discover that one of the people that inspires me most these days was a guest artist in the book! I've had the book for almost two years -- how could I not have noticed that before?! I immediately recognized her birds, which are the things that capture my interest most about her work. So once again, I tried my hand at some. I'm happy with the birds that look like they are sitting on tree branches, which are actually the lines from the sewing pattern that is glued to the canvas beneath them (and the canvas is recycled from one of my daughter's paint play days). However, I'm not sure that the collage is finished -- and yet I'm not sure how to complete it. I toyed with putting two more "joy" stamps (top left and bottom middle), but that didn't quite do it for me. 


Any thoughts on what this collage still needs?????


Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Word Art Wednesday - June 13, 2012






While it's been a crazy week expecting a Monday hospital admission and not getting one until Tuesday afternoon and then not getting any treatment until Wednesday afternoon, and then learning I'll be here until Monday instead of Friday,  I decided I had to make an effort to do this week's Word Art Wednesday challenge because the verse is just so perfect! 

Don't you agree?!?!? Feel free to download the verse image and use it yourself if you like!


I met a sweet lady in the hospital lounge during the weekly tea time yesterday, and I decided that I would create this piece for her. We had a lovely chat and it all came out that I may well have taught her nieces, and her daughter is friends with my friends, and we just share so many core beliefs and are determined to see the Grace in our cancer journeys! It's so wonderful to make connections like that! We exchanged numbers and email addresses, so I hope our paths will cross again. 


If you feel inspired to participate in this week's challenge, please do! You might just win some goodies from Fred She Said Designs


Thursday, June 7, 2012

New Art Journal

I've almost filled my drawing book, and since I purchased two when I started using Carla Sonheim's Drawing Lab for Mixed-Media Artists, I decided to get ahead and decorate the cover so it's ready for use. 




I love the leathery texture of layered tissue paper, so I started by gluing pieces of old sewing patterns (nice, natural coloured tissue) onto the front cover, scrunching the pieces as I went to create texture. Then I layered chocolate brown, ochre yellow, and metallic gold acrylic paints, lifting some off here and there with some more tissue paper. To protect it all, I layered more glue on top (glossy ModgePodge). Glittered letter stickers and a piece of my old art attached with some leopard tape finished it off. I thought of adding more elements, but I want it to remain flat, so I decided to leave it at that -- at least for now :)


I've discovered that I can't use a journal or workbook as it is; I need to decorate it and personalize it.


Is there anything you need to "make your own" before you feel comfortable using it?  




Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Word Art Wednesday - June 6, 2012



The text for this week's Word Art Wednesday was Ezekiel 36:26:




There is not a lot of symbolism in my piece this week -- it just kind of came together the way it did as I was puttering in the art room. Well -- the heart is symbolic of course -- and I chose sandpaper for it to represent the stoniness described in the verse. But beyond that, it's just layers and textures that appealed to me in the moment. 


This week there are two prizes available for two WAW participants! Crop Stop is offering a $10 gift certificate for their online store to one winner, and MilkCoffee Digi Stamps is offering 3 digis to a second winner. Why not enter? 




Sunday, June 3, 2012

More Little Birdies




This evening DS5 wanted to play outside in the front before bed time, so I decided to sit on the porch with another page from the encyclopedia and see what emerged while I kept an eye on him. I was inspired by our porch pillows . . . and then by some of the words that popped out on the page.








And then I had fun playing with the photo editing tools again! 




Any thoughts on what I might do with these little one-pagers????

Saturday, June 2, 2012

A Little Birdie





Inspired by Geninne's Art Blog: For June, I used it as a guide for my own drawing. Since imitation is the highest form of flattery, I hope she doesn't mind me trying to improve my drawing skills by mimicking hers. She draws and paints the most beautiful birds on all sorts of substrates. 


Because I like the look of art on top of a printed page, I decided to use a page from an old encyclopedia for my base. I love the fact that the text camouflages the errors in my drawing! :) Of course, I see all sorts of flaws in my end result, but it was fun to do.

Friday, June 1, 2012

One-Eyed Monster

I had the urge to pull out my Drawing Lab book the other day, and settled on the task of creating a one-eyed monster according to one of the challenges. Who says monsters must be ugly? :)






As per the instructions, I started with a permanent pen, drawing a single eye and working from there. I must have chickens on the brain or something, because it turned out to look much like a pretty chicken -- or at least that's what DS5 says. (He also wondered why I scribbled all over the head and tail. They're not scribbles, they're villi, child! They help make my monster a monster ;)  I coloured with watercolour pencils, and then blended with water. I don't like working with watercolour pencils because they don't really look like watercolours -- but they're transportable and easy to work with even if the results aren't stellar. 


As I was creating the monster, I found myself wondering, "Why bother? What's the point of using my valuable time making a useless little monster?" I'm not sure I have a good answer. It's an exercise in creativity. It's a way of using my hands productively during moments of inactivity -- like supervising children at the park or waiting for an appointment. It's developing my drawing skills. (Well, sorta.) And I guess it's just plain old fun :) 


What pretty monsters do you have in your life? Do you ever create anything just for fun?

A Little Man that Blesses Me

The other day I found this little markered man drawn by my five-year-old little man. After I commented on how much I liked it, DS5 decided to outline it with pen, adding a new dimension to his work. 


Somehow, my little man and his little man bring a smile to my face :)


What little treasures have you found lately that make you smile?

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