Monday, August 18, 2014
Friday, August 15, 2014
Pages of My Life- Aug 11-15
Here's a glimpse of my art journal/planner for the week of August 11-15. Some of the components that are pretty regular are a layer for the background, a quote and random doodling. The background was done using my gelli plate and acrylics.
Something new that I tried this week was the use of negative space in the heading. This idea came from the Art Journal Inspirations class that the lovely Miriam Schulman offered. She does an amazing job with negative space and its something I rarely think about. I like the look; what do you think?
I added the quote from Vincent (yes we are on a first name basis!) while listening to a wildly weird and odd but wonderful recording by Michael Gordon. He put Vincent's letter to his brother Theo to music. YES! Seriously! You MUST listen. At least once. (BTW: I heard the whole thing on spotify but the link is just one piece posted on you tube)
The quote on the left was posted on my friend, Liz's fb page and it simply spoke to me.
I added some date and comment stamping using my date stamp from SMASH.
Here's the funniest part...it was completely filled in by Monday evening!
I had to resort to marking up other things!
Here's the funniest part...it was completely filled in by Monday evening!
I had to resort to marking up other things!
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
On My Work Table
A big, happy, juicy, messy, colorful pile of index cards!
It was one of those days where I really wanted to paint and be in my groove but it wasn't happening. At all. I wrote a blog post. I deleted it. I wasted time on facebook. I saw the last few things I need to sort through in my newly reorganized studio. I ignored them. I took the pupster out. Numerous times. I played with the pupster. She went to sleep. I sat at my desk. I got up. I think you get it.
Then I came pulled out the pile of index cards I keep stashed in my journal tote. Tammy, over at Daisy Yellow started a really cool idea back in 2011 called Index Card a Day (ICAD). Each day she gives a prompt and you either follow it or make up your own; the whole idea being you work on one card each day. Not overwhelming this way. She did it again in 2012 for June and July and added new prompts plus shared her kid's cards. In Jan 2013 she began Prompt6ix! where she gives you six words or phrases and you create from there. She offered ICAD again in June 2013 and most recently one more time this past summer (2014). But she didn't stop there...she is now posting Daily Paper Prompt.
Here is my confession...I have tried each time to join in and something happens and I end up not participating. I think over all these opportunities I have created a grand total of.....wait for it......17!
I love the IDEA of following the challenge but the timing just hasn't worked out for me. This doesn't mean its not a great tool to have on hand for days like today. I followed a couple of prompts and then things took off and I finally hit a creative mood. I completed 23 cards today. Yes. 23.
This is not the method that Tammy uses but it is still a completely valid one. On days like this I don't want to waste my quality supplies but still want to be creative. Chances are I am going to be super critical and unhappy with the outcome but need to do something. I don't want to set myself for frustration or put pressure on myself. Good ways to work yourself into artist's block. Using the cards is low key, fast, and doesn't take tons of concentration; excellent since I hardly had any! Here's a couple examples from the day.
It was one of those days where I really wanted to paint and be in my groove but it wasn't happening. At all. I wrote a blog post. I deleted it. I wasted time on facebook. I saw the last few things I need to sort through in my newly reorganized studio. I ignored them. I took the pupster out. Numerous times. I played with the pupster. She went to sleep. I sat at my desk. I got up. I think you get it.
Then I came pulled out the pile of index cards I keep stashed in my journal tote. Tammy, over at Daisy Yellow started a really cool idea back in 2011 called Index Card a Day (ICAD). Each day she gives a prompt and you either follow it or make up your own; the whole idea being you work on one card each day. Not overwhelming this way. She did it again in 2012 for June and July and added new prompts plus shared her kid's cards. In Jan 2013 she began Prompt6ix! where she gives you six words or phrases and you create from there. She offered ICAD again in June 2013 and most recently one more time this past summer (2014). But she didn't stop there...she is now posting Daily Paper Prompt.
Here is my confession...I have tried each time to join in and something happens and I end up not participating. I think over all these opportunities I have created a grand total of.....wait for it......17!
I love the IDEA of following the challenge but the timing just hasn't worked out for me. This doesn't mean its not a great tool to have on hand for days like today. I followed a couple of prompts and then things took off and I finally hit a creative mood. I completed 23 cards today. Yes. 23.
This is not the method that Tammy uses but it is still a completely valid one. On days like this I don't want to waste my quality supplies but still want to be creative. Chances are I am going to be super critical and unhappy with the outcome but need to do something. I don't want to set myself for frustration or put pressure on myself. Good ways to work yourself into artist's block. Using the cards is low key, fast, and doesn't take tons of concentration; excellent since I hardly had any! Here's a couple examples from the day.
Your turn! What's on your table?
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Art Quote of the Week
NOTE: Bonus posting today! You get 2 posts today (even though they are late) because the Hurricane didn't allow me to post about my journal/calendar/planner last week.
I like to include quotes in my art journal/calendar/planner and thought I would include them here each week as well for you to enjoy or use yourself. I use one of two neat little programs called Recite or Quizio to make the images. Makes them easy to pin on Pinterest!
If you have a favorite art related quote, please share it! Enjoy!
Week of August 11-15
Last weeks:
I like to include quotes in my art journal/calendar/planner and thought I would include them here each week as well for you to enjoy or use yourself. I use one of two neat little programs called Recite or Quizio to make the images. Makes them easy to pin on Pinterest!
If you have a favorite art related quote, please share it! Enjoy!
Week of August 11-15
Last weeks:
The Pages of My Life (aka: My Current Art Journal/Calendar/Planner)
The other day on facebook I mentioned I would tell you about my new calendar/art journal. It was getting annoying to have too many places to "keep track" of my life and I wasn't enjoying having my sketch books serving as my calendar. My sketch books are just that...a place to plan and work out future pieces, do sketches, draw, etc. It bugged me that in the middle of a bunch of lovely pages I would have decided to jot down some stupid thought or shopping list. I knew that could not continue. I also knew that I have never been good at maintaining a regular diary or journal...I'm an art journal kind of gal all the way. Any words I put in mine are usually art related, quotes, song lyrics, etc. I'm not one to write long entries about my day.
So what's an artist to do?
Simple! I found a spiral bound planning calendar for teachers (nod to our homeschooling years!) that has both 2 page spreads for monthly and
I keep track of appointments and activities on the monthly spread. And yes...I doodle on those pages as the month progresses. Nothing formal usually...just those mindless oddities that occur while I'm waiting on the phone or contemplating plans. I liked this one for lots of reasons but the great color scheme was a big one!
Then...on the weekly pages...since I don't have a super busy schedule any more (yay!) I really don't need both pages to keep track of stuff. I designated the left side for journaling about my days and the right side is for art play. I experimented for a while and because the paper is not meant for art work, I've gone ahead and spread gesso on a few of them to make them sturdier. Right now the thing I'm loving most though is to use my gelli printing plate to apply the paint. I've also been writing some of my favorite art quotes on them. I attach lists with staples, paper clips, use post-it notes, add ephemera, tape, you name it.
Currently I have about 13 weekly pages prepped. This just means there's something spread on the page to create a first layer. I tend to use leftover paint and gesso from current projects in this way. Cuts down on waste. My sharpie pens work pretty nicely on top of the acrylic paint so I'm sticking with those for now. I keep this open on my work table most of the time and it sits inside my business notebook.
OOPS! Forgot to tell ya that it has plastic pockets on the covers...so I added a collage of sayings that inspire me in the front one! (Part of the process of the Right Brain Business Plan which I will be talking about on and off again) And I hung a few charms on leather to the spiral coil to use as a place marker.
The Documented Life Project is doing something very similar and gives weekly prompts for ideas to do on the art side if you are interested. They also have a Flickr and facebook page to share your pages.
So what's an artist to do?
Simple! I found a spiral bound planning calendar for teachers (nod to our homeschooling years!) that has both 2 page spreads for monthly and
weekly pages.
I keep track of appointments and activities on the monthly spread. And yes...I doodle on those pages as the month progresses. Nothing formal usually...just those mindless oddities that occur while I'm waiting on the phone or contemplating plans. I liked this one for lots of reasons but the great color scheme was a big one!
Then...on the weekly pages...since I don't have a super busy schedule any more (yay!) I really don't need both pages to keep track of stuff. I designated the left side for journaling about my days and the right side is for art play. I experimented for a while and because the paper is not meant for art work, I've gone ahead and spread gesso on a few of them to make them sturdier. Right now the thing I'm loving most though is to use my gelli printing plate to apply the paint. I've also been writing some of my favorite art quotes on them. I attach lists with staples, paper clips, use post-it notes, add ephemera, tape, you name it.
Currently I have about 13 weekly pages prepped. This just means there's something spread on the page to create a first layer. I tend to use leftover paint and gesso from current projects in this way. Cuts down on waste. My sharpie pens work pretty nicely on top of the acrylic paint so I'm sticking with those for now. I keep this open on my work table most of the time and it sits inside my business notebook.
OOPS! Forgot to tell ya that it has plastic pockets on the covers...so I added a collage of sayings that inspire me in the front one! (Part of the process of the Right Brain Business Plan which I will be talking about on and off again) And I hung a few charms on leather to the spiral coil to use as a place marker.
So what kind of journal are YOU using? Whats great about it or what's not so great? Let me know! I'm curious.
Friday, August 8, 2014
Hurricane Iselle Cleanup
We didn't have any impact from the hurricane...very blessed and thankful for this and paying for those that ARE feeling it...but add we continue to monitor the news I spontaneously opted to cleanup my art journaling tote. I want to keep it on my desk near my daily calendar/planner/journal. I keep it in a tote because...well I had the tote! Nah!nah! I used to take it places and still hope/plan to. It functions as my plein air bag as well.
ALL DONE!!
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Jenny's having a give away!
You do not want to miss this one! Jenny does the most incredible portraits of pets (she did Emi's for us!) And she draws and paints uplifting, fresh....oh gosh...just go see and enter her giveaway!
Jenny's Sketchbook
Sunday, August 3, 2014
Saturday, August 2, 2014
Facebook Page
I sure hope I have this figured out now.
I OFFICIALLY have my own art page on facebook now.
https://www.facebook.com/ArtofPerfectShun
I am hoping to separate my art world from all the chatter of facebook that not everyone cares to read. Stop by and say aloha, "Like" my page and check out the art.
BTW...that me sitting at the caretaker's cottage at "A Bay" in Waikoloa, Hawaii during one of my plein air excursions!
This is what happened when I was playing with paint
I shared on fb that I was going to play with paint and someone asked me to post pictures! This made me giggle because I didn't intend to get a finished product and expected nothing worth sharing. But in the spirit of seeking "perfectShun" I will share. These are just technique exercises that are in my daily calendar/art journal. (Btw...I'll share about this fun idea another time! You're gonna love it...and hopefully give it a try too!)
These were done using my gelli plate and liquetex acrylic paints. The pages already had a layer of paint on them so after I applied paint to the gelli, I used a cotton swab to remove some and just drew quick circles with the swab. Place the page over the plate, press evenly and voila! Loveliness! See? Just throw the paint down and see where it lands! Have fun! Create! (Be sure to share with me when you do! I'd love to see your work.)
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