31 Art Journals - Day 2

Welcome to today's journal.  It was inspired by an artist called Teesha Moore, to do these style imagery as well as some of the fabric journals I will be sharing with you at a later date.

I kept the front cover simple and it is something that I can revisit at a later date.  The Journal itself was made from recycled card and has collage within the pages

I also left some of the pages blank and put background layers on some of them, awaiting a time when I can play within the pages.

This is the back cover

Check out the video of the journal to see how it fits together.

Last but not least, I would love to have you join me for the online class in November that I will be teaching on calledHacking the Colour Wheel - Art Journaling for Creative Rebels. I have one spot to give away on the course and you will have access to a range of wonderful lessons to inspire and motivate you. You will also be learning a book binding technique to create your own art journal

31 Art Journals - Day 1

 

Welcome to day 1

I have been art journalling for many years now, alongside the other art that I do alongside.  I find art journalling to be a great way to express on the page the things that you may not be able to say verbally.  I have had many journals over the years, some complete, half done or not touched yet and all different sizes.  I have created journals from card, fabric, plastic, there isn't a material that you can't try when making an art journal.

This was one of my first art journals in which I tried to practice different styles and finding my own style

First journals practicing styles

I used it to explore changes that I wanted to see in my own life and my walk as an artist

I also looked at things that I found challenging, around the area of dementia and looking after my mum.  I chose to focus on the positive things, such as my mums love for dancing and music.

The art journal for me was a source of delight as I looked to continue to grow and develop

I spent a lot of time playing around with faces and styles and leaned on other artist as my style began to come forward

 I used the art journal to experiment, In this image you can see the chin of the woman's face to be much larger than the one in the video, It is important to feel free in your art journal.

Before - with chin

After - altered - the joys of gesso!

 Whenever I got new supplies I use my art journal to experiment in, and practice using the supply.

Again trying different styles of drawing enables you to stretch yourself

and help you get to know your supplies

And find different looks that you might want to take forward in a painting or digitally

I also use it when I am trying out things like homemade stamps and create different characters.

Check out my video on this journal

I hope that this has encouraged you to see your art journal in a new light, and that you come back tomorrow to see day 2

Tip - Don't get hung up over what art journal to use

Last but not least, I would love to have you join me for the online class in November that I will be teaching on calledHacking the Colour Wheel - Art Journaling for Creative Rebels. I have one spot to give away on the course and you will have access to a range of wonderful lessons to inspire and motivate you. You will also be learning a book binding technique to create your own art journal

31 Days of Art Journals - Introduction

What to expect

Thought I would give you an idea of what you can expect over the next 31 days

• Insight into how each 31 journals were made
• Video flip through of pages on Youtube and
• Weekend roundup and tips
• Video of an art journal process ie 'backgrounds'

I love working in my art journals and over the years I have made quite a few over the years, I didn't like them all.  There is nothing quite like creating one of your own from start to finish, obviously you can go and purchase one, but once you start making your own there is no limit to what you can create. I thought I would share my love of art journals that I have created.  

For the next 31 days in October I will be sharing with you some of the art journals that I enjoyed working in, and still use.

Art Journaling is part of life

They come in all shapes and sizes, and have been used in a variety of ways, some are handmade, fabric, recycled, and shop brought.  I have much more than 31 so you are getting a taster.  Over the years I have found it a great way to get ideas down, express visually when you can't find the words and see how much you have grown in your creative walk.

Start somewhere

There is no right or wrong when you are making your art journal, once you learn the techniques you can take it where you want and have some great adventures.  There are revelations and gems dwelling within the pages.  

Art Journals fighting for their space

I will also be giving you a simple video flip through so that you can get a closer look at each one, the pages are a delight, and I love the texture that you can create with each one, mini works of art and  a masterpiece in its own right.

Art Journals come in all shapes and sizes

I will also be showing you the inspiration for some of the pages in the journals.  I really do encourage you to take the time to either make or use recycled materials to make your art journal, and then add to it using different textures to create a look that speaks to you.

Handmade Journals bring intense joy

So why not join me tomorrow and see what I have to share with you over the next 31 days of Art Journals.

Last but not least, I would love to have you join me for the online class in November that I will be teaching on called Hacking the Colour Wheel - Art Journaling for Creative Rebels.  I have one spot to give away on the course and you will have access to a range of wonderful lessons to inspire and motivate you.  You will also be learning a book binding technique to create your own art journal

31 Days of Art Journals - sneak peak....

I thought I would give you a sneak peak to 31 Days of Art Journals.  I will be sharing with you some of the Journals that I have made and give you a look through them, to inspire and encourage you to spend time making, playing and bringing life to your own.

From the 1st October to the 31 I would love to have you on this journey with me,  and I hope that it inspires you to look at different materials in a unique way and see how you can incorporate them in your creative journey.

Journals come in all shapes and sizes

The journals that will be sharing come in all shapes and sizes.  

I will also share some video hints and tips about working in your journal and will give you some ideas to play with in each journal that I share with you.

Come back on Sunday 1st October to see the very first journal I will share with you and stick around for the rest of the month to see the variety and get a closer look at some of the journals.

Leather beaded journal

Today's the day! My first Auction

Today is the day that my art goes up on the Survival and Triumph Online Auction.  I am very blessed to share the space with Jenny Doh  We kick off at 1pm EST and go on to around 11.45 the following day.  I have a few more that pieces of art that you may not have had a chance to see yet, and you can see the other pieces on my Facebook page HERE 

cloth and string

I have a mixed selection of artwork on display which speaks to the ever exploring creative in me.  I love mixed media and taking it off the canvas and the art journal and onto a sculpture, and you will see my figures combine fabric, clay, paint and jewelry.  

Engage

I love experimenting and also working with different materials including recycling, up-cycling and these too you will find will be able to tell a story and capture a heart.

If you haven't signed up yet come by and show some love and encouragement and who knows you may be inspired to do something creative for yourself.  Survival and Triumph  Auction

Painted Tray

Seekers 2

Seekers 1

Stay blessed and be a blessing!

Survival and Triumph Art - Its HERE!

The Survival and Triumph Online Auction begins tomorrow and run until 2nd October, there will be a closing party, giveaways and more, and it has been great sharing some of the pieces that I have in the auction.

Each piece that I create comes from an emotion, experience, memory or something that I am using the art to express and it is a blessing to know that art can be used in this way.

I thought that I would share a bit of the background to the pieces that I created that are in the Survival and Triumph Online Auction.  I shared some of my pieces Here  Each artist has around 15 - 20 pieces in the Auction.

Over the 8 days you will have the opportunity to purchase work by 14 amazing artists that include Annie Hamman, Jennifer Bonneteau, Katrina Koltes, Lara Provost, Renata Loree, Jennifer Albin, Lynda Fortin King, Donna Davies Timm, Lauren Rudolph, Mystele Kirkeeng, Donna L. Martin, Jenny Doh, Dana Primrose Bloede, and myself!

This event is hosted by Stephanie Gagos once a year in honor of the very important film she is creating called

“Letter to my abusers: What I couldn’t say then”.

You can read more about Stephanie Gagos’ project HERE.

Here is a selection of my art that will be in the auction:-

Ancestors Remembered 

Ancestors Remembered - How many of you have done a family tree and really thought about the men and women who lived before you and share your history.  I have been thinking a lot lately about those family members that are no longer with us and the impact they made on my life.

Dance

Dance, this piece was inspired by the child impressed by the women in the old time films who would dance in those flowing dresses.

Dreamer

Dreamer, having so many dreams and seeing those dreams become reality, not being afraid to dream big, and through your walk encouraging others to dream.

In Search for Identity

In search for Identity - how do you make your way in the world, we are told how we should look, feel, what beauty is and what the world thinks of us, and more, but what do you think about yourself.  We can stop ourselves from achieving, travelling and being who we were called to be when we allow the world to define us. 

You can also see some of my work on my Website - https://www.realityarts.co.uk

I will be sharing more of the art on my Realityarts Facebook  page, do stop by and join us for the auction, even if it is just to leave an encouraging comment, we appreciate it!

We've come a long way baby! How have you grown? In the Studio

Well I can't quite believe it myself but I have moved studio spaces yet again.  I reflect on how far I have come and I would have never have dreamed that I would be here.  I struggled in the early days when I kept complaining about not having enough time to create, I worked, had a young son and no space.

Humble beginnings on a small table

Here I am using one of the small tables I would use in the kitchen. I would go from this table to the end of my kitchen table and it all had to be cleared away by the end of the session.  I would stack my supplies in the bins that you can see and on the shelving below.

Using what space you have

Nothing was accessible, but I worked round things and stayed up late when everyone had gone to bed and was able to spread my supplies out a bit more.  I realized that it wasn't about how much space you had but how you used it.  I have seen other artists work in much smaller spaces and when I thought about it I had the space that I needed to create.

Box Room

When my stepdaughter moved out, my son got her room and so I decided to move into the box room and have a space I could call my own.  I dismantled the bed and took the carpet out before anyone could change their minds lol..

The bed was coming out to make way for the studio

I put down flooring

Chose the flooring without having to compromise

I took everything out redecorated and shared HERE   It was magical, my very first studio space and I didn't have to put everything away.  Being in a space that I could call my own I felt the growth

Many classes were videoed on this table

It was my creative heaven

And I worked it, it was packed to the brim, but it was a space that I could call mine and really get down to work.  After working on the end of a table this was 5 times bigger than I was used and it fit my needs at the time.  

Bigger Space - Time for more growth

When we moved a couple of years ago I didn't imagine that I would be getting a creative space 5 times the size of my previous space but I did.  I was able to have different work areas, one for sewing, crafting, office space all in the same room.  I was able to start working on sculptures and more mixed media pieces and so much more

Different work stations helped with the growth

I worked on many courses and exhibitions in this space and really appreciated being able to grow.  The hardest thing was to pack up and get my head around having a new space.  This has been the biggest hurdle, as I don't think I have quite caught up being in this space.  Getting my head around packing and unpacking the whole house and not having a ready made studio space wasn't something I looked forward to and I neglected myself and started to feel sorry for myself which I share HERE, but I knew that the new space would enable further growth. 

Saying goodbye to my old space

The Creativity Centre

Room with a view

Before we moved we agreed that this would be my space, initially temporary but it has now become a permanent thing, and there are three parts to the space that allows me to broaden my thinking and I have been calling it The Creativity Centre, and you will get to see it over time.  I couldn't get my head around how I would fit everything in the previous space into this and needed to think creatively.

I knew that I couldn't get every thing in and so Alan graciously suggested that I move my art books in one of the wardrobe spaces that we were to share (temporarily of course)!  That said and done meant that I didn't have to worry about my books for the time being, they are at hand and I could focus on what really needed to be in my space.

Wardrobe space houses some my art books 

It has been over 6 weeks now, so many things has happened to share with you both in London and Barbados, it feels like only yesterday, but strangely it feels has if we have always been in our current location.  I appreciate all the spaces that I have been able to occupy.  One of the things that I did to begin with was to paint the walls and I was able to design a pattern on the floor, which was the first time, bar putting lino in my first space that I had full control of.  I will share the process in another post.

Here is a glimpse for now

  

The long and short of it is that growth comes in many ways, whether the changes are big or small.  I have for the past 2 years said that I am on an adventure.  Life's adventure that can hold so many surprises, gifts, learning experiences - both good and bad and so much more!  What kind of adventure are you on?