I know Why the Caged Bird Sings - Art Journal Page

 

Come and join me as I share an Art Journal Page using the same name as the book by Maya Angelou - I know Why the Caged Bird Sings - Great book if you have not read it yet, Amazon has a reduced price at the moment.  Check out the video below:

I show you from start to finish how I would work on a page, using Neo-colors and stencils and some pens at the end.

This is a good example of using up the paint on your pallet and using it to create an image in your art journal. Hope you enjoy seeing how it takes shape.

52 Art Journals Series - Coin Art Journal

Coin Art Journal

52 Weekly Art Journals with Amanda Trought

Here is one of my latest art journals.  In the video I share with you how the journal was created and then go on to create a page using oil pastels.

You can etch into the oil pastels to highlight and create marks on your image.  You can check out the video below.

If you would like to see the other art journals that I have created you can find them HERE  

 

Arts and Wellness Cafe - Kindred and so much more!

I shared on my YouTube Channel the current Arts and Wellness Café Episode and the word for is 'Kindred' and what that word means in your creative walk.

Are there techniques, supplies that you feel particularly connected to?  And does it have a bearing on the type of work that you may produce?  I believe that the art that we create, the supplies that we use and our passion all has an energy that goes into the finished piece and is received by the buyer or one the art piece has been gifted to.  Check out the video below.

 

I also share with you an art journal page creation and book review.

I love creating patterns and I find it a great way to reflect and quite yourself.  

Art Journals and Creative Healing is a lovely book and in the Arts and Wellness Cafe I share a short version for you if you want to check out the longer version on Amazon you can see it HERE

There are many takeaways when we start to think about our relation to our creativity and the art that we are producing.  We are able to express ourselves with our art, speak truths, hidden moments, love, joy, fear - so many of our emotions can be demonstrated through the arts.

I hope you are able to join me each week in the Arts and Wellness Café.

Let me know what you are getting up to and if you want to share that is great!  

Patreon Only Content

If you want additional exclusive content - art journal videos, tutorials, behind the scenes talk ad more that I share for my patrons, you can join me HERE

52 Weeks of Art Journals - Recycled Clutch Art Journal

 

Come and join me for the latest art journal in the series 52 Weeks of Art Journals. The Art Journal on show today is what I am calling a Clutch Bag Art Journal

Check out the YouTube Video and you will be able to get a good look at how it is made.

This is the third art journal that I have made using Tetra Pak -

(a recycled milk carton it has 3 layers (foil, cardboard and plastic). You can check out the other two below

Chunky Journal - https://youtu.be/4PTFBdZaKdo

Jigsaw Journal - https://youtu.be/5f7uHJmm74I

I loved creating this art journal, as it started out as an experiment and then it all just fell into place and the clutch bag was formed. Using the tetra pak milk carton as the base and it is a great way to recycle, especially for us here in Barbados as there are no processing operations that exist for this sort of packaging so it all goes to landfill.

After being cleaned I covered it with painted fabric, I have added quite a few elements such as the lace/ribbon detail, inspiring words, beads, the bead droplets and additional texture around the art journal.

The texture was created by applying gesso through sequin waste and allowing it to dry before applying metallic paint.

Beading also added a nice touch and I also used it to cover some of the spine of this journal. The pages of the journal uses recycled collaged and painted card and measures approximately 3 x 5 inches, so great for making quick pages or when you only have a limited time to create.

I am sure there are many other things that can done to make use of the packaging, I have seen it used in building materials, making bricks, and put though recycling plants. You need special machinery to separate the layers for recycling, so why not come up with a creative project that you can enjoy.

Some of the supplies used - some of which you may have already:

Fabric - recycled school uniform - or fabric you may have

Gesso - https://amzn.to/3yGjtdL

Jacquard metallic paint - https://amzn.to/3yH7XyR

Sequin waste - https://amzn.to/3qZ6l0F

Beads - https://amzn.to/3AMmcEs

Thread for stitching - https://amzn.to/3k1yfYH

White pen - https://amzn.to/3e40Mc9

I look forward in seeing what you come up with

Arts and Wellness Café - Word for the Week - Confident, Art Journal Process Page and New Art!

In the Arts and Wellness Café the word for the week is confident and I share with you some new art work, it is a sculptural piece made with lots of yummy texture.

I loved working on it as it also uses a lot of different supplies and you get to use some of the things that you have in a different way.

I also share with you an art journal page process - This is especially great if you want to keep it simple and just want to create an image, but you can also do it if you just want to add marks to the page.

Art Journals

I wanted to work on a background page that already had paint, and just wanted to create an image, this young lady came up and I will be working on the page more and add additional details. You have to be able to step away from work and then revisit it - you come with fresh eyes to then add to the work.

Amanda Trought - Art Journal Page

I look at the need to be confident in your approach to the materials that you use and in turn you will be confident about the work that you are producing. I hope you can join me and let me know what tips you use to stay confident.

Let me know what tips you have for remaining confident and some of the strategies that you might use to get you back on track if you come off.

Hope you are having a blessed week so far.

Join me on Patreon

52 Weeks of Art Journals - Jigsaw Art Journal

 

What can you do with a milk carton - make an art journal from it of course.  Check out the video I share how I made it.  Here are some close ups of some of the detail.

Stitching and buttons are on the front alongside some doodling.   I experimented with some of the stitching and added French knots, back stitch and had fun with some faux stitches by adding the white lines with the acrylic pens.

I embossed the large jigsaw puzzle piece and pressed a stamp, then added a rub on to it.

It was great fun to make and a way to recycle the milk cartons.

I included 3 different areas to write so I could vary the activity in the art journal.  Let me know how you create your art journals and if you use any recycled materials.

Weekly Art Journal Ideas - Composition Notebook Art Journal

 Composition Notebook Art Journal 

As part of the 52 Weeks of Art Journal Check out my Composition Notebook Art Journal video above.  

There is no excuse not to create, you don't need to wait for that really nice art journal, or do you need to save that art journal for 'best'.  You can get composition notebooks for under $5 and while the pages are thin, once you add paint or collage material you are good to go!

Mixed Media Art Journal Page

 

Loose Leaf Art Journal Page

What are you doing with all your background pages that you have sitting in a pile stacked somewhere? I get them out every now and again and see if I am inspired to create something on one that happens to catch my eye.

I had left this loose art journal page in one of my piles to complete for quite a while before coming back to it and I found it at a time where I just wanted to keep things simple and use some paint and just play with the time that I had.

I really enjoy creating and seeing the figure come to life and have a story to tell, and it is also great practice to keep your hand in creatively, always have something that you can do on a daily basis, you don't have to finish a piece all at once.

I hope that you decide to experiment and play!

Supplies used to create this piece:

Folk Art Paints - https://amzn.to/3d3GkI5

Posca Pens, Black and white - https://amzn.to/3gTxD4a

Water-soluble Charcoal crayon - https://amzn.to/3wOCHNH

#Artsysecondsunday - Frida Inspired Painting

It was great taking part recently in the #artsysecondsunday.

You can check out my video below as I am doing a Frida Kahlo Inspired painting, I share what has inspired me about her work and create a painting in my art journal. Which you can check out below.

Products Used in this page

Folk Art Paints - https://amzn.to/3xoyrnZ

Watersoluble Neocolors - https://amzn.to/3pPYlPc

White posca pen - https://amzn.to/3zoxiij

Water-soluble Graphite Crayon - https://amzn.to/2U6o4Hl

Gesso - https://amzn.to/2RSDWMK

Stencil - https://amzn.to/3gkAALZ

Artsy Second Sunday is an art video collaboration organized by Martha from ilove2paint (AyalaArt) 

We are a group of Painters and Mess Makers that want to bring you joy and awesome paintings, every Second Sunday of each month. Please follow the links to find ALL sorts of styles and mediums in a fun filled binge. 

You can leave us a comment, a thumbs up, and of course you can subscribe to each channel if you have not done so. Our videos are done for you and feel free to ask any questions. Enjoy! 

Here are the participating artists, click on their names to go to their videos.  On the day you can join us in the LIVE premier or check out the videos after.  I have put them in order of appearance starting with Martha who goes live at 12 noon. (EST)  

Martha from ilove2paint  

Eleni S-artstuff 

Diana Art  

Archu's Art World 

Nina Fickett Designs 

Mural dreams by Laura 

Amanda Trought 

Mixed Creativity by Marie  

Nicky Parr 

Britta Mindartdk 

Mona L Creates 

Mary PittsburghArtistStudio 

Peg Adkins R 

Shel Paper Ocotillo Studio 

Look forward to having you join us in future sessions! 

Looking Back - Art Journal Page Process

 

Glad you could join me today on the blog.  In this video I share with you how I transform a page that will eventually end up in my art journal.  You see it go through the various stages as the painting progresses.

The story is of a young girl and she is looking back over her life, all the things that got her to where she is and the relationships and choices that she made.

Don't be afraid to make changes in your creative work and over time you will begin to see how things will unfold.

Supplies used in this piece

Recycled Paper - free

Brushes - https://amzn.to/3xoqkcd

Folk Art paints - https://amzn.to/2R6NRgP

Gesso - https://amzn.to/3u381as

Turning a Composition Notebook into an Art Journal

I recently brought myself a Composition notebook to create an art journal with.  The are fairly cheap and you can pick them up at the Dollar or local store.  In this video I share with you how I transform the first pages.

I wanted to use supplies that I had been holding on for a while and got a selection of handmade papers, words, atc cards and Gelatos that I had sitting in a draw.

We can sometimes be really precious about our supplies, leaving them for what we call 'best' and not ending up using them at all and before you know it the supply has dried up and you have wasted your money.

What I plan to do with this art journal is to share some of the process pages - sharing techniques and ideas so that you can try them as well in your journals.

The more I played with the page the more supplies came out and I stencilled on the page and made marks and brought the page together.

I realised how many cards and papers that I had painted on and left in the bag that I was able to use. They now have a home in the composition art journal and it is also a great escape for me to be able to be a lot freer with my supplies.

If you would like to see the FULL version of this video in 'real time' you can do so HERE on my Patreon account.

Stay blessed and be a blessing.

Everlasting Art Journal - Art Journal for Beginners - Video included

Welcome to the post, I created this art journal from greeting cards that I had printed out and for some reason or another just didn't use them.  They are A6 cards of a variety of colors and some have shapes cut out of them for inserts.

 

It is a lovely size to work with as it fits quite neatly in your hands.  One of the things I like with this art journal is that it uses the scraps of paper and card that you may have especially those smaller pieces from other projects.

Check out the video below to see how I have worked on the pages, and get some hints and tips of how you could use your hand made art journal.

Let me know if you have any questions about the Art Journal and pages and if you decide to make one I would love to see your results!

Art Journal Page - Ideas

Here are a couple of Art Journal Pages that I did recently. The first one is called Triumphant and I start out with a blank page adding gesso and Neo Colors water soluble wax crayons, then the face developed and I allowed it to take shape.

In the second video I start out with two figures on the page and spent time playing with color until their features started to form.

The supplies used are Neo-Colors - https://amzn.to/39DL45d

Gesso - https://amzn.to/3rL98JU

If you have not yet subscribed to my YouTube channel why not consider doing so and click on the notification bell.

Art Journal Flip Through - Restoration Art Journal

Join me as I flip through my Restoration Art Journal, it is a great space to not only journal but to paint,  I love combining both and also use it to work on future ideas.

It is a recycled prospectus art journal that I have repurposed and it has been collaged and embellishments placed on it.

To check out some of the art supplies used check out my Amazon recommended and video reviews check them out HERE

You can also check out some of my art designs that you can now get printed on dresses.  It is a lovely style dress and is perfect as we welcome in the warmer weather.  You can see more designs HERE

Art Journal Page - Collage, Paint and Doodle

I am creating in my art journal in this video and to start out I have applied background paper to the pages.  It is a great way to use up patterned paper that you may have and you can add them to blank pages for use at a later time.

I am also going to be adding some marks and texture to the page and just allow myself to enjoy the process in the art journal.

Let me know what your favourite supplies that you like using in your art journal and it would be great to see some examples

 

Arts and Wellness Café - Hopeful Extended

Arts and Wellness Café

Join me in the studio for Arts and Wellness Café where we look at more ways in which 'Hopeful' impacts on you health and well-being.  

I also share with you two short process videos so that you can look at playing with backgrounds, just using Inktense pencils, collage paper in a journal, you can apply colour to the page and use it when you only have a short time to play.

Creating pages in your Art Journal Add colours to the page and activate!

I also catch up with some of the Life Book taster sessions, it is great to be able to see what the other teachers did for their sessions and here is one that I was able to do Inspired by Eulalia Mejia creating the backgrounds, using gesso and going in a mark making on figures, the one below is what we did in the classroom.  

Here is the the one below that I was able to do, it is a lovely exercise and very therapeutic as well with all the mark making.

If you would like to register for Life Book CLICK HERE

Use the code FEELHAPPY20 to get the 20% off at the checkout, you will also get all the taster sessions as well!

Art Journal Faces - Each one tells a Story

In this video on my YouTube channel I share some of the faces and scenes in my art journal.  When I work in my art journal the intention is not to initially draw a face, but to work on creative play on a background without judgement at how it should look, just reaching for supplies and allowing them to find the pages.

Once the page has got to a certain point I start to think about what I can see emerging from the background, often you can see shapes of images - you may have to turn it upside or on its side to see the shapes/figures that have formed without you specifically thinking about it. 

Each image has a story to be told and you have been given to task in telling it, the first step is finding them on the page and releasing them into the world - I will let their voices be heard.

Dancing to the Beat of Your Own Drum

She decided to dance to the beat of her own drum, not worry what others had to say or tried to say.  She no longer sought the approval of others and understood that she had been on a journey collecting the tools she needed to stand on her own two feet. 

 

A big learning curve had taken place and she was free to be who she wanted to be and live her life.  She could express herself in the way that tapped into her creative dreams, visions and goals - it truly blessed the world and herself

I hope you enjoy looking at some of the images on the video and look forward to seeing how you start to approach your Art Journal.