Thursday, March 31, 2011

Mindful Art Journal Page

Hi All!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

I have been putting a lot of energy and thought into one of my new journals.  I want this journal to be a place for only positive thoughts, quotes and dreams.  I am working in this journal quite differently than my regular process.  I normally tend to work on multiple pages during one sitting, moving back and forth through pages as my muse takes me.  For this journal I want to create my entries mindfully, working on the entries until they are finished.


I have saved this Yoga card and Labyrinth for a very special project, and I have finally found it.  I wanted this journal spread to focus on calming my mind and getting into a more focused state before reading what lies beyond.  You may recognize the background as it is the page from the Derwent Inktense pencil technique I did in this video.

I can't tell you how wonderful it felt to create this, it was very refreshing!  I have so many wonderful things planned for this journal and I can't wait to continue to share them with you.  So far it's been completely opposite to why I usually journal, which is to release anxieties.  It feels so fulfilling to create something positive and with intent.

While researching Labyrinths I found this wonderful website.  You can learn the history and use of Labyrinths, as well as how you can draw your own!  How awesome is that?

So many wonderful things are happening in my life, I hope to be able to share them with you soon.  Thank you all so much for the support, love, and friendships!   I wish you all peace and much LOVE!

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Flag ATC Book

Seems like I am always sick these days, but I am now suffering with a sinus cold.  This is affecting my voice, so I didn't want to record a video this way.  I apologize!  As soon as I feel a bit better I will record my updated supply video, I promise!

In the meantime, check out the ATC Flag Book we created live last Wednesday night on Ustream:


I used scrapbook paper from a Me and My Big Ideas paper pack called Airline that was on clearance at Michael's.  The ATC's are just some cardstock that I had scraped paint on randomly to create starters.



This is a great book to store those ATC's you've collected from others, or maybe a series of ATC's you've made yourself.  It's very fun, and the size can be customized to whatever size flap you want.  Here is the recording:



I have been working in my Positive Intention Journal a little every day, I still don't really have a good name for it yet, but I can't wait to share it with you all!

I apologize for the domain confusion.  One day it's Journalartistaart, the next back to blogspot... but my dot com went down today for some unknown reason.  I have switched back to the blogspot addy for the time being.  :)

Hope to see you all tonight, class starts live on Usream at 9:30pm EST!

Much Love!

Friday, March 25, 2011

Art Journaling Supplies For Beginners

I am receiving so many wonderful comments and emails, and for that I am beyond grateful.  Thank you so much for taking the time to brighten my day!

Many of the emails I receive are about art journaling supplies, what are my favourites, and what are good for beginners.  About nine months ago I posted these two videos:



Part two:



Please forgive the shakes, I was still in a cast back then!
Watching these videos again really has got me thinking.  Much has changed since then, particularly finding new favourites.

Be sure to follow my blog on the right, and subscribe to me on Youtube, tomorrow I will be updating my supply list with a new video!  I hope you are as excited as I am!
What are your favourite supplies?  What can you not art without?

Much Love everyone! xo

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Healing Art Journal Pages and Positivity


Deep inside my soul I truly believe that happiness is a choice.  This choice, however, is sometimes very hard to make.  As I've mentioned in a prior post I'm rereading some favourite books, and truly trying to better my mind.  I want to be more positive, especially towards myself.  Too often I find my mind wandering to negative thoughts and self doubt.  I will change this.  Here is a site I found today with a wonderful video about choosing happiness.  I am inspired.


For me this starts with reading books and journaling.  Not just visual journaling, as seen here, but good old fashioned, soul searching, diary writing.  I am trying to find a daily routine that works for me.  So far I have committed to writing in my journal and reading an inspirational book before bed every night.

I just finished reading (for the third time) Jack Canfield's "Key to the Law of Attraction":


It's been a wonderful experience and has prompted me to make a "positive only" art journal.  I hope to share it with you all soon.  This book is so much more than just describing the law of attraction, it helps you figure out what your goals are, and what you want most.  This was important to me as too many times I think to myself "OK, now what?".  I would love to hear your book recommendations.  As always your comments and support are much appreciated. 


This was a fun page created on Ustream using spray inks and packing tape transfer.  Check it out here:



Have a wonderful day!
Much Love xox

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Colorful Art Journal Pages and Faces


Ok, ok, so this first page is not colourful.  I really enjoyed creating this though.  I added a piece of vintage sewing pattern with gel medium to create texture.  The black swirls are Dollar Bin rubons from Michael's.  While creating this I was feeling a bit of pressure, and needed to remind myself that not everything comes easy.


This page in my Moleskine was a bunch of random fun.  On the left is a Tim Holtz texture fade sample that I made when I first got it.  I love using random bits like that and working around it.  Yes, I'm still working on my "favorites" list.


I had another migraine yesterday.  I have decided to journal and try to figure out what's triggering them.  I took a few Advils last night and still did my show on Ustream.  I think I was a little loopy and punch drunk, but we definitely had a great time.  This page was created with many layers of stenciling, beginning with a background of Inktense pencil.  On the right I wanted to incorporate a Post Card "starter" that I created.  It was much brighter than the page so I decided to paint a bird over it.  Here is a close up:


It felt so good for me to work outside my comfort zone.  I just love how this little guy turned out.  If you have a few minutes, here is the recording:



Speaking of Ustream, I was watching the amazing Dede on Friday afternoon and felt inspired to create these crazy people:


Thanks so much my wonderful friend for all the LOVE, encouragement and inspiration!  It felt so wonderful to create something so out of the "ordinary" for me.

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!
Much Love! xo

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Watercolor Pencil Tutorial and Inktense

Has it really been a week already?  Hours are turning into days, days into weeks, and it's all passing me by quickly.  It's for this reason that I've been digging through my book collection looking for inspiring books the get me back into the "now".

I also found my copy of The Artist's Way.  I have had a copy for many years but have not read it.  I decided to pick it up again this week and have read into the third week.  I am not sure when I'm going to start, but the book/program is truly speaking to me.  Have any of you completed it?  Tips and or thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Here is my newest Youtube tutorial, enjoy!



See you tomorrow with some new art.
Much LOVE xo

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Distressed Art Journal Pages


Happy Saturday!  I hope you had a wonderful week.  Mine was full of migraines and stress.  So what do I do when I'm stressed?  I play in my art journal.  I find that the messier my mind is, the messier my art seems to be.  I am totally fine with this, it's part of the reason I art journal.  

I have been reading a wonderful book called "Happiness Now" by Robert Holden.  It really has me thinking about the way I perceive things.  For example, this page I worked on during my live class last Saturday night did not go as planned.  I was feeling a little frustrated, which is never good when you are the teacher.  I spent a few days thinking about what went wrong and why.  I suddenly realized that it was all in my head.  What I created was wonderful.  Yes, it was a floportunity.  I realized it was my choice to think of it as a failure, or as something beautiful that was intended in the first place.  It's all in how I chose to look at it.


Spend a bit of time and watch the recording here, we had a great time!



Continuing on my grungy theme, I created this page this past Wednesday live.  I really wanted to use my new Curtain Call papers from Graphic45.  I really love the warm colours used, mostly burnt sienna and yellow ochre.  It was so fun to mix some brand new papers with very old stickers that I used in the title.  My favourite part of these papers is the "Dangerous Curves" you see on the left page.  




These pages were created because I was thinking about dancing, and how I don't anymore.  It's a combination between my weight and my ankle, regardless they are excuses.  My journaling is written with a Bic ballpoint pen and is hard to read unless you look closely.  You can see it a little better in the picture below.  Yes, I know I need to turn on my music and just dance.


I really enjoy writing with my Bic pen.  It writes over pretty much everything and the writing ends up blending into my background.  You can watch the progression of this page below.  I hope you enjoy it!


Don't forget that I stream live every Wednesday and Saturday nights at 9pm Eastern.  You can go HERE during that time to watch and chat live, it's a great time!  You can also click on that link to see all my recordings.  Don't forget to click on the little button at the top that says "Join Crowd".  Also, there are times that I will randomly turn on my camera, so don't forget to follow me on Twitter for updates.

See you soon!
Much Love xo

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Cover of my Affirmation Art Journal


Welcome everyone!  I have had a very low key weekend, full of relaxation, reading and art.  I had a great time last night during my live class on Ustream, thanks to all that joined the fun!  It was a crazy night of laughter, letting go and trying new things.  For me this including drawing a face with in ink using a dropper right out of the bottle! Scary stuff!

Art Journal Every DayThe pages above are actually the front and back cover to a mini journal I'm working on.  It's going to be a personal affirmation journal so I wanted it to be bright and cheerful.  Most of it is my acrylic paint layers, but there is some Basic Grey paper and a few Making Memories rub ons.

I have been working in this book daily, inspired by the wonderful Julie Fei-Fan Balzer.  She is hosting a year long Art Journal Every Day project.  I have been a huge fan of Julie's for many years, and am super excited to participate.  Click on Julie's name to join for March!

Speaking of wonderful places to join, come check us out over at The House of Art.  There are a bunch of technique videos and wonderful articles to browse.  A wonderful site that believes in sharing and inspiring.  I am honoured to be a part of such a wonderful community.




Hope you had a wonderful weekend!
Much LOVE!

Friday, March 4, 2011

Latest Art Journal Pages... Just Play!


Happy Friday!  After a long week it felt so good to spend a bit of time in my art room.  As I work on multiple pages at once, I sometimes sit down to just finish a few pages.  This is what I completed tonight.

This first page was a whole lot of fun with Ranger Adirondack Colorwash.  I now have all the colours in the old bottle, and am collecting the new colours.  These sprays are such a vibrant colour, you can't go wrong!
This background was created live on Ustream and is in my recordings HERE.




This spread started this past Wednesday night during my live class over on Ustream which you can watch here.  We had some wonderful new viewers, thanks so much for joining us!

I used a lot of scrapbooking products on these pages, but it felt SO good.  I find that if I am lacking inspiration, or just staring at a blank page not knowing what to do, finding a piece of patterned paper paper is enough to jump start me.  This paper is from the Handmade collection by K&Company.  You can find it at your local Michael's or Joanns.


Finally we have this spread.  This is truly a page compiled from the left over bits of pains and papers from other journal sessions.  It was so fun to see it come to life without any thought from me.  To finish it all I had to do was add some letter stickers for the title, and use my white gel pen for my journaling.  I really love how it turned out, I plan on doing this exercise more often.

Thank you so much for all the comments, tweets and emails sharing your thoughts on my last post. It amazes me at how many different things we all saw!

Until tomorrow my friends,
Much LOVE!
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