What about the VLOG? Episodes 1 and 2

Alright, so I dived right in and have started to VLOG!

Yes I have started small, and hope to do a hourly, daily, weekly ok at the moment a sometime vlog talking about the things that are coming up at the moment, and more.  When I started I wanted to do it daily, but life, time, and over promising myself got the better of me, so I totally stopped. The desire to do it was still there, so I decided to break it down a bit, take the self imposed pressure off and do it as a weekly-ish Realityarts Vlog

I moved home had to do the packing and unpacking - I am on my 4th studio space, will share more soon.  I had courses and exhibitions to deal with and lots of other things that seem to be vying for time, and I want to share some of it on video, but I really underestimated just how long it would take.

Join me anyway on my YouTube channel, are you on your own creative journey and want some inspiration, or want to break-in, don't quite know where to start?  Well over time I will be providing some of the answers (from my perspective). I will be sharing what excites and motivates me, and inspiration from other artists - you accompany me on a creative tropical adventure. 

I will also cover in my VLOG the highs and lows of relocating that we found and how we adjusted to a new way of life, answer questions, tell you about new techniques and courses that I am involved with and so much more.

Episode 2 Series 1

Episode 1, Series 1

The third episode which is well over due should be with you this week and perhaps that will be the regular viewing date, I am trying to keep myself to a schedule - (a work in progress), rather than like sniper fire.

Anyway I hope you enjoy, and join me on the creative journey, we only have one life, why not live it to the full and step out and do the things that bless you and can inspire others in some way.  Go on, I dare you!  High Five..... I'm daring myself so you can't leave me hanging!

Do check out some of my other social sites, that seem to take up so much time....

Instagram

Facebook
Website

Pinterest - don't you just love all the different boards, no more piles of magazines with circles around things that inspire you or that you just like..

Anyway, thanks for getting this far, stay blessed and be a blessing

Amanda

31 Art Journals - No: 15 -

Today's Art Journal sees us half way through the 31 Art Journal Series, and I have double news to tell you today!

This Art Journal has been made entirely out of recycled materials, from envelopes, magazines, cereal box and was something I wanted to create to experiment with what I had to hand.

I also used it as a way to practice particular techniques, like the one below layering foil with foam letters beneath to create a message.  This page is still to be completed.

Check out the video of the Art Journal below to get a better look

The Video

NEWS JUST IN!!!

I am one of the guest teachers in the online class Hacking the Color Wheel Art Journaling for Creative Rebels!  I have a great class to share with you and I am really excited to be part of the guest teachers for the 2nd session

For more information check out the link, I will share more about the course tomorrow!

31 Art Journals No: 14

Welcome to today's Art Journal which I call my Healing Journal and is part of the 31 Art Journals Series.

This as with all my Art Journals are always fun to create, and each one has its own purpose as a journal.  For this one I wanted a fabric and paper journal.  The signatures inside are paper, and contain a mixed size which then impacts on the message on each page

The front page has modeling past over a stencil and it gives a great texture once it was all painted.  I put a tassel border on the edge of the journal and I really like the way the journal feels in my hands.

This Art Journal is about sharing truths and being clear about what is important.  When you write these things down it helps to reinforce the message.

Some pages are waiting for their final message, or layer and that is the great thing that you can still dip into the art journal and say what is on your mind.

Check out the video below to get a closer look at the Healing Art Journal

Stay blessed and be a blessing!

31 Art Journals No: 13 - Cereal Bag Journal

Welcome to Art Journal No 13, which is part of the 31 Art Journal Series.  This Art Journal started off as an experiment, but I really enjoyed putting it together and the final result that was achieved.  If you don't experiment then you don't know how things can work together and in some of those accidents amazing results were achieved.

You can see the inspiration for the journal HERE.  I started out with a collection of images, background papers, embellishments that were going to be added in between the cereal bag and heated to seal them in.

When you know what you want to put in between the layers which is a different way of working as you are creating the journal pretty much in one sitting before sealing, so the though processes are slightly different.

I had a lot of vintage images and small postcard samples and I wanted to give the feel of  a vintage journal.  I added embellishments, stitching on some pages and created some tags.

I really enjoyed how this one turned out, and I would in the next one include more stitching as after time and use some of the embellishments come loose.

The Video

Check out the video to see the Journal close up

31 Art Journals - No: 12 - Background Paper Journals

Welcome to today's Art Journal which is part of the 31 Art Journals Series.

This Art Journal is made from papers that had been created as backgrounds, which meant they were filled with colour and texture prior to being used as signatures for the journal.

The decoration of the wool was added once the Journal front page had been painted.

I wanted this journal to be an encouraging reminder, and I got a selection of quotes and added them on each page.  Journaling was added in select places, and there were also pages that were left blank for additional journaling at a later date.

I really enjoy painting faces and you will find in practically all of my journals characters that not only speak to the emotion whilst creating the page so that you don't have to add words, the face and eyes say it all.

Your journal can have as little or as much as you want to have within it depending on your mood or intention.

The Video

Check out the video to get a better look at the Art Journal

31 Art Journals Page - Background Bonus no 2

Blessings for you and yours this Sunday.  Welcome to the 31 Art Journal Series backgrounds bonus.

If you didn't catch the background bonus from last week you can see it HERE

Here is a reminder of yesterdays tips, see which ones you already incorporate into your journal practice and which ones you can start if you need to.

Check out the backgrounds video to see how you can create those background papers with some of the things you may have around your home!

The Video

Here are some practical ways in which you can create your own background pages.  Enjoy!

Stop by tomorrow on the blog and the YouTube channel to see what Art Journal I will be showing next.

31 Art Journals No: 11 - A Star is Born

Welcome to today's Art Journal

A Star is born

I have only given you a peak of one of the pages today to encourage you to check out the video below in which I give a flip through.

This journal has been up-cycled from a children's book.  The pages have been sanded and gesso applied to allow the paint to adhere better.  Think about all the different ways that you have seen to make your own Journal 

Check out the video to get a better look at the art journal and what inspired the pages. 

Tomorrow you will be getting the recap of the week with some tips, and on Sunday you will be seeing an art journal process video to give you some hints for your own journals.

The Video

Stay blessed and be a blessing!

31 Art Journals - Art Journal No: 10 - Gratitudes and Celebrations Journal

Welcome to Journal No: 10

It is great to be able to revisit some of these journals and give them a new life, and share them with you.

Draw me nearer - Journal Page - Amanda Trought

I think this is one of my favorite journals, it has been the most involved one and it is totally handmade.  This draws on inspiration from artist Teesha Moore, and some fabric journals that she shared many moons ago.

The Journal encompasses all the things I enjoy about mixed media, and then I get to play within the pages.  I included a lot of beading and stitching work to cover the front and back of the journal, and added quite a few signatures of alternating sizes.  You can see it in its original state HERE

I did a series in the Gratitude's and Celebrations Journal and in it I would list those things that I was grateful for and complete a journal page.  Can you think of 3 things that you can be grateful for?

Check out the video to see a flip through of the pages.

The Video

31 Art Journals - No 9

Welcome to today's Art Journal

Art Journal Page - I am enough

Welcome to Art Journal number 9!  In the 31 Art Journal Series. This art journal is a store brought A4 book that I embellished with fabric, crochet and beads

This panel should have been the front of the journal.  Made from a jeans pocket with 'Just Art' stitched on the front, but somehow it ended up at the back (lol)  a place to hold upside down pens!

You are enough....This was a journal page that I created for those times when you start to criticize and compare yourself and you need a bit of encouragement.  You can see the post about it HERE

I really enjoy working on the paper in this journal, when you add gesso it gives the page a lovely texture.  As the Journal is A4 in size it allows for a more detailed page, and larger spreads.  This is another thing that you might want to consider in what you may want to use your journal for.

The Video

Check out the accompanying video to get a good view of the inside of the journal, and come back later to see Journal No 10.

Stay blessed and be a blessing.

31 Art Journals - No 8

Welcome to Journal No 8, the video for this journal was released yesterday and you can see it below.  

I will be uploading the blog post for today's Art Journal shortly.  Maybe you want to compare them and think about what you prefer in each.  If you are making your own journals you might want to incorporate some of the ideas from either one or both and bring it together under one journal.

I am sharing with you a Pound store Art Journal that I created and a shop brought journal that I covered with fabric and wool and made it my own.  Each very different in what they are being used for, but both special in their own way.

The first, the Pound Store journal is made from cardboard and a paper pack that I brought from my local pound store, you might have similar depending on where you live in your local Dollar store.

I even made beads from some of the content

The pages had 3 signatures which I used to house different types of journaling

I also included secret compartments and pockets and created a number of tags from the paper.

I included a reminder that the journal was a place to take a break and to relax in, and most importantly if you only have a limited time you need to create a space for yourself that you can recharge the batteries.

I really enjoy this Art Journal, and has you have seen in most of the other journals I have left space for growth  and comments that I may want to put in now.  Again so important to make your art journal work for you.

The Video

Check out the accompanying video to see more of the inside and learn a bit more about the pages.

Stay blessed and be a blessing.

31 Art Journals - Weekly recap, tips and more!

Wow, a week has passed already!  I wanted to let you catch your breath and give you a recap - slightly changes the overall timeline.  Time flies so quickly and I understand that you might have wanted to follow along every day and weren't able to.  The weekly recap enables you to catch the 'season' all at once and binge watch if you so desire 🙂.

You will get a bonus 6 tips for the week and on Sunday will share with you something more practical and give you a 'how-to' art journal page video and this will hopefully further spark your creative juices for week to come.  This week we will be looking at one way to create background pages with inexpensive supplies.

We will start back again on Monday with the Art journal selection which will take us a few days into November, but I want you to have as much time to process the different styles of journals you would have seen this week.  There might be one that you want to try as well as have time out do one of the techniques shown in an art journal page you might have seen.

6 Art Journal Tips

1. Don't get hung up over what art journal to use 
2. Art journals can be brought, recycled up-cycled and made from a variety of materials
3. Experiment with different journals to see what type/size you like
4. While it might take more time, making your own journal will bring more satisfaction and you can make it to suit your specific requirements
5. When you start making your own journals, it will have you looking at your environment in a new way
6. Experiment with different materials, don't be scared to use different surfaces, and supplies - remember this is YOUR journal

Here are your journals that I have shown for the week 

Let me know which one was your favorite.  And if you create some backgrounds I would love to see them.  Stay blessed and be a blessing!

31 Art Journals - Day 6 - Graze Box Recycled Journal

Welcome to Day 6 of the 31 Art Journals, it is a pleasure to be here again and to share with you today's journal.

This is a recycled journal made from the outer cover of this Graze Box, which for those who are not familiar you can see the review that I did HERE  They are very tasty.

They contain a great selection of snacks that you can mix and match depending on your tastes.  

So I decided to use the outer cover of the graze box to make the journal and it was filled with a selection of recycled paper that I would be working on.

I created two journals out of the packaging and you can see the post HERE  They were great fun to make and it meant less things going into landfill.

After completion I began to add color to the pages and random collage material just to get something down and not have a blank page staring back.  This is a great especially if you have limited time, you can at least feel that you have got something creative done.

The completed journal along with some handmade beads to decorate the spine and a button clasp.

Check out the video to take a look inside the journal.