Strathmore Workshops - Recycled Journal Pages

I've just finished my redesigned piece for the Strathmore workshop 1.  Found it really interesting being able to use art and journal pages that I had previously done to make a new page and direction.  Here is my efforts over the 4 weeks. 

Week 1 and 2

Recycle journal pages - reusing artwork, this was taken from 3 different pages

that I had done and brought together

Week 2

Redirect - giving pages a new voice - using oil pastels, pencils etc

Week 3

Reuse - adding drama to pages using things you might throw away - sequin waste,

stamps paint, pastels, other textures

Week 4

Re-purpose - Finalising your pages and using creative lettering

I am going to start another one, and see where it leads...

Lots more to show and tell from the other on-line courses that I have been doing over the next few weeks.  Have a blessed weekend

Creative Every Day Challenge

Decided to take the plung and sign up for the Creative Every Day Challenge  as a way of encouraging myself to keep my focus as an artist, and give my creativity the front seat this year.  The optional theme for this month is Cosmos,  and it can be done in any form, which is good as  I have been taking quite a lot of photographs and writing over the past couple of years and it would be great to share them at some point, I have also been thinking a bit about digital art and combining some of my pieces.....so much to do and time is of the essense!  Hope your day is blessed and if you decide to take the challenge check out the link above.

Unexpected

I noticed how isolated you can get as an artist when you don’t take the time to venture out within the community.  Trying to spend more time on my art means that you spend large amounts of time on your own, so to fit in walking allows me to get out and about.  I had a meeting to go to today and would usually take the car to the station, as its not as cold as I thought it would be, decided to leave it and start my walk earlier.  Spoke to 2 people I didn’t know on the way, felt the rays of sunshine on my face, and had a brisk walk to the station.

The new fingerless gloves I brought worked a treat and my hands were surprisingly warm. For this trip part of my journey involves going into central London, round the corner from where I use to work so it brings back memories.  The train journey wasn’t too bad, got quite busy but because it’s no longer a daily journey it didn’t matter.  I was able to be observant and take note of the different characters that spend a fraction of their day closer to strangers than they would normally!

Meeting done,  I was also looking forward to visiting one of my favourite shops where I get some of my US magazines like Somerset Studios. 

At Blade Rubber Stamps, they have a range of stamps, papers and many other things.  I  brought Green Craft and Cloth Paper Scissors - I brought some supplies as well,  suppose this can also count as my ‘artist date’......

One Way?

I had originally thought that I would start this in December, but the best intentions can often go by the wayside.   I also thought I would change the title to walking thoughts instead of challenge, thinking that it should be part of my every day, rather than something that I have to overcome ‘challenge’ and fight with myself to complete, although in a way it is!  I guess we all have something, or many things that we are challenging ourselves with this year.....

One Way???!!!!!

I wanted to continue my drive for fitness regardless of the weather, enjoy the scenery and use the time to think about the creative work I was doing and take some pictures of the things I observed on the way.  This this sign came to my notice.  I had grown up thinking that there was one way, though an internal dialogue was simmering underneath insisting that other ways existed.  The thoughts of being an artist was discouraged, inside I wanted to try many things meet new people and many places to go see.  Its took me a lot of reflection and searching before I realised I could give myself the permission to break out of the constraints and shine my light into the world! It’s funny what can come out of a simple stroll. 

New horizons  - 

Here is some local graffiti art that I passed on my walk, not sure who the artist is, but if I find out will let you know they have quite a few bits of art dotted around north london.  I have definitely grown as an artist over the last 3 years and more recently since 2010.  I took quite a few on-line courses last year, Art, Heart and Healing, Flying lessons, Believers Truth, Crafting Your best life - Crescendoh, which all opened up a new way of looking at my art and just making that step as an artist.  Will be sharing some of the work that I did both here and on my website.