April Fool

April Fool's Day

is a day when people play jokes on

each other. The Roman festival of 

Hilaria, held on March 25th, and the

Medieval Festival of Fools, on Dec.28th,

may be the beginnings of April Fools Day.

Iranians play jokes on each other on the 13th

day of the Persian New Year, which falls on

April 1st or 2nd, and many believe that it

is the origin of April Fool's Day.

A "fool" is also a term for a court jester,

who entertained the king and court.

According to Wikipedia, "The fool's status

was one of privilege within a royal or noble 

household. His folly could be regarded as the

ravings of a madman, but was often deemed

divinely inspired."  Jesters served not only

to amuse, but to criticize their master

and mistress, or guests.

The jester could mock and freely dispense

insight, while a nobleman could find himself

in the dungeon for similar remarks!

"What soap is to the body,

laughter is to the soul."

~ Yiddish Proverb

Have you had a good laugh today?

Art Journal Thoughts

Art journal pages can be many things.

These pages are expressions of

what was on my mind this week...

unseasonably warm weather, 

blessed green buds and the

joy of spring blooms...

Renewal is something that nature

shows us in dramatic ways.

People also need to be renewed

in spirit, nourishment, thought,

and in fun!

Incorporated in this journal page is

a shopping list and some images from

posters that I used for a talk that I gave.

Lots of doodles and fabric create

additional color and texture.

Food for Thought, and healthy

Food for the Body are both

important priorities...

and art helps feed my spirit.

Pink Journal Completed

The little pink journal that had 

just 24 pages, is complete...

here are some pages that have

been posted on the blog in the past.

The "barracuda" page is my favorite...

I have left these drawings (above) without color,

but am not sure I will be able to resist adding it.

The detail of a statue (right) is drawn from an art history

textbook...such a serene expression on this queen.

She looks very Buddha-like...

Slay your dragon, whatever it may be...

jump in and make art!

Trying Out Gouache

Gouache is an opaque water-based paint.

It handles a lot like poster paints, and

has a matte finish.

(click on any image to view enlargement)

There are only a couple of blank

pages left in this little journal made

from pink drawing paper.

This pen drawing is similar to one I did

for a swap, here, in which the theme was East Indian

art. I liked the textures and patterns so much,

that I did a page for myself in this journal.

I think I may have to add watercolor

to this.  Do you think it needs color?

Another page using gouache,

where I used up the colors left on my 

palette.  When I start to think that my

journal pages are becoming too similar

to each other, it's time to try something different,

like no words, just shapes-texture-color!

Seek Something Delightful

Art journaling in my visual art journal

makes a cold gray day more bearable...

watercolor, drawing, and collage

give me an outlet to express

frustrations, sadness or joy...

quotes can often be a starting point.

(click on any image for a larger view.)

Seek something delightful

each day.

Fill your day with color!