Join me in the video or on the podcast for this episode of Arts and Wellness where I look at the effects of the varying lock down, social distancing, death, unemployment and mask wearing around the world there is a knock on effect on our health.
Working in an Art Journal can have positive effects on our health and well being, let me know how you use yours if you have one, or check out some of my art journal videos for some tips
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.Creating backgrounds can be useful as a starting point
Welcome to Episode 218. Creating In Faith Encouraging Recordings are to bless and inspire you to be the best of yourself.
The word for today is 'Interested' What is it that you are interested in? What sparks your interest in relation to your creative practice? Are you surprising yourself and trying something new and stepping out of your comfort zone?
I always encourage you to do some work in your art journal - see what comes up for you, get down your thoughts in written form or in colour and even shapes.
Pastel Art by Amanda Trought
The art shown in this series is taken from my 100 days of Pastels where I painted 100 paintings and it felt like a big achievement for me. The pastel paintings are available as prints or you can get the images on other merchandise which you can check out HERE
Art created on merchandise by Amanda Trought
Why not also join me on my blog on Patreon, you can get access to a number of resources, art tutorials and videos not see anywhere else.
Let me know how you get on as you look at some of the questions on the podcast, and remember you can also sign up for two free creative sessions and chat about your creativity.
Welcome to Inspirational Shorts Review - Each week I review an art supply, tool or book and today I will be looking at Creative Paint Workshop. You can check out the book on Amazon and join me in the video below to see inside the book.
Gwendolyn Brooks - Sadie and Maud, Inspirational Shorts
This week on the podcast I am sharing another poem by poet Gwendolyn Brooks. In Episode 217 of my podcast you will here the poem Sadie and Maud.
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Joyful
Art Journal Page - Amanda Trought
The word for the day isJoyful. Think about how the word can be incorporated into the things that you do and create an art journal page linking the word. Let's look at the definition of the word joyful -
joyful feeling or causing great pleasure and happiness
with joy great
pleasure and happiness,
a cause of great pleasure and happiness success or
satisfaction.
Now how is it you feel about your creativity? Can you find those
pockets of feeling joyful or joy and think about how you can find those little
moments in your creativity because sometimes you just don't feel like creating. Sometimes you know you want to do something else but if you think about the
creativity as a blanket so whether you going to your studio sear your table or
wherever your space is and create something or write something or take a
photograph it's all part creativity so it's all feeding you, feeding that 'well' that you can dip in-and-out of and grow.
Poet - Gwendolyn Brooks
“Poetry is life distilled.” ― Gwendolyn Brooks
Gwendolyn Brooks - Sadie and Maud
This week is the 2nd week of looking at the work of poet Gwendolyn Brooks, so today the poem that we are
going to read is called Sadie and Maud.
Welcome to the show notes for the Arts and Wellness Episode - 216, so glad to have you here. If you have not yet seen the video you can catch it down below
You can listen to the podcast below
Part of my normal routine starts the day with herbal tea made from Moringa, Broad leaf Thyme and on occasion another blend, alongside a cup or ordinary tea as I head my way over to my studio.
Frangipani flowers from the garden and Scaevola cutting.
In the recording I share information about my art journals. This is my Restoration journal, one among many. An art journal is a great place to put your thoughts in images and words. I work in several art journals depending on how I am feeling at the time. I love making journals.
Art Journal - Restoration, Amanda Trought
Pages can be prepped before hand, and I usually see the process in 3 stages, depending on how much time I have to work on a page. The page below has lots of texture, colour, and I have journalled on the pages. I initially layered the background colours on the pages, then went back at a later date and added the images.
When I felt in the mood to do some written journalling I looked through the pages to see which one was speaking to me then added the written text.
This is usually how the page starts out on the left, with layers of colour on the page
This is another activity that I have enjoyed doing, creating pieces to slow stitch. These are quilted painted pieces that I then have been adding stitching to. There are many more to start working on.
Slow stitch fabric
The pieces also have stencils gessoed on and I often add an image to them.
Closer Detail, painted fabric and stitch - Amanda Trought
What are you finding speaks to you creatively at the moment. I would love to hear what you are working on.
You can also join me if you want to have a chat about what you are doing creatively where you want to take it. You can book two free telephone calls were we can explore where you would like to go to next. Check it out HERE
How many glue guns do you possess? If you have been using them for years like I have you will know that it is easy to go through a range of glue guns until you find the one you really like and need for your uses. In the video below I share with you some of the ones that I have used.
I do have my eye on another one I saw in the hardware store but I will have to save up and take another look just to make sure I wasn't enamored by the 'new store syndrome'
Check out the review below.
While you are there you can also check out some cool ways to create your own stencils using a glue gun.
Glue Gun Stencils
You can make the glue guns to the size that you choose and custom them for a particular project that you may have.
Glue gun stencils - Amanda Trought
You can use them with spray paints that you may have, brushes and sponges will also work. Let me know what your favorite stencil that you have made is.
I have also used the glue gun to create outlines for art journals and paintings.
They are in the long run economical to use because you are create the stencil to suit your needs, and can be used in a variety of other projects. They are also unique to you which is great especially if you are planning on selling your work further on down the line.
I would love to see what kind of designs you can come up with for your glue gun stencils.
Welcome to Creating in Faith episode 215 for the Podcast, where I discuss a word and how it can be related to a creative practice. The word for this week is Known.
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What do you want to be known for, by? What do you know about yourself and your creativity? Do you know why you create and what gets you going each and every day in your studio or creative space. Spend some time exploring the idea in your art journal and you never know where it will eventually lead to - maybe a new body of work, new art supply or tool, and a deeper understanding of your creative practice. Thank you for listening, stay blessed and be a blessing! Art Prints The art in this piece is available as a framed print HERE and also as a variety of products.
The framed prints come in a variety of sizes and styles. The image is also available on cushion covers as seen below. I would love you to check out some of the other designs available for purchase.
Welcome to the post today. You are in for a double TREAT! Inspirational shorts will be changing slightly, I will be sharing on the podcast a poet. This month the poet I have chosen is Gwendolyn Brooks. Each and every month I will either feature one poet or more and on the blog give you a bit of information about them. On the YouTube channel Inspirational Shorts will be a short product/art supply or book review. I hope that you are staying blessed and inspired. Let me know who your favorite poet is.
Gwendolyn Brooks
Gwendolyn Elizabeth Brooks (June 7, 1917 – December 3, 2000) was an American poet, author, and teacher. Her work often dealt with the personal celebrations and struggles of ordinary people in her community. She won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry on May 1, 1950, for Annie Allen, making her the first African American to receive a Pulitzer Prize. Throughout her prolific writing career, Brooks received many more honors. A lifelong resident of Chicago, she was appointed Poet Laureate of Illinois in 1968, a position she held until her death 32 years later. She was also named the Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress for the 1985–86 term. In 1976, she became the first African-American woman inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters. (Wikapedia page) More Information HERE
The poem that I will read today is called a Song in the Front Yard and you can find the words HERE while you are there check out the Poetry Foundation, they have information about a wide range of poets.
Inspirational Shorts - Review
Weekly reviews on art supplies, tools and books to inspire and encourage.
Neocolor Water soluble Wax Pastels
In this video I share a review of the water soluble wax pastels known as Neocolor. They are lovely to use and can work well on a variety of surfaces.
You can check out the variety of sizes that they come in HERE
Welcome Arts and Wellness Wednesday, slightly later than planned. I hope you get a chance to view the video below if not I have shared some of the images below that I spoke about.
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This is where Cole plants himself, directly behind me so I have to step over him to get passed. I built a barrier of boxes which he is not amused by and every now and then he jumps over and is practically sitting in my lap!
These are the hand made books that I made at my book binding course, it was really great, all in all we made 5 different books an I try and make sure that I make at least one every few weeks.
Art Journal Page Technique
Art Journals/books I made in Book binders course
I love making my own books and quite often make them out of alternative materials - fabric, recycled, old prospectus and more. There is always a wealth of materials available for you to work with.
Art Journals - Amanda Trought
This is a sneak peak at some of the other things that I have been creating - Sculptural Looms with embellishments and stitching projects.
I look forward to hear what you have been up to and seeing some of the images that you share.
Realityarts - Creativity Book Shop - Some really great titles for you to dive in
Creative Resources
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