April Fool!

Have some fun today

and enjoy a good laugh ~

Happy April Fool's Day!

The first post for my 2015

Fake Journal is up over at

Cottonwood Counterfeit Journal.

Stop in for a visit...

WorTh RepeaTing: DocumenTing Life Journal

The Documented Life Project, Week 8:

"It's Worth Repeating."  In the

collage above, I repeated shapes, (cloud-

shapes, flame-shapes, circles)

types of lines -thick and thin, and colors.

The diagonal lines create movement.

Below, a reference to the Periodic

Table of Elements...

Below, Week 10: Mark-Making as a

Layer Element. The shape, thickness,

and direction of the marks (or lines)

on the page will lead your eye

around the composition.

I keep in mind that in Western Art, we 

"read" things from left to right, top

 to bottom, and I place the elements 

of the composition in a way

 that leads the eye over the page

without getting "stuck" in one spot.

There are two pages for each

week's spread, and I've chosen to

do them separately, rather than one

large composition, but with an effort

to make them work together.

Above, Week 11: Borders...

"Borderline, feels like I'm going to

lose my mind..."  

I decided to create a brain diagram

inspired by early drawings/theories.

This is not scientifically researched on

my part...I just wrote in some characteristics!

Linking up with Elizabeth for

T Tuesday, and offering this 

Pumpkin Pie~Apple Muffin recipe...

to go along with whatever

beverage you are having today.

Of course, mine is coffee, rather

than tea. Join the T Tuesday 

gang for coffee, tea, art, or

whatever is going on!

Tomorrow begins my adventure into

Fake Journaling for the month of April.  

You can click on the pink (dog) icon

in the sidebar to read more about

International Fake Journal Month,

or visit me at

Cottonwood Counterfeit Journal

to see my real journal, by a 

fake character! No foolin'.

You might even decide

to try an alternate

reality and join us

in making a

Fake Journal!

Considered Truths...

Trip to Eden Gardens

Eden Gardens State Park,

Mount Washington, Florida, USA.  

This wonderful Live Oak tree is called

"The Wedding Tree,"  because of

the numerous outdoor weddings that have

been conducted beneath its stately branches.

This tree is over 300 years old!

There were quite a number of 

impressive Live Oaks on

the property.  The home originally 

belonged to a family that ran a sawmill.

  Later it was purchased by a wealthy

woman who called it 'her Eden,'  

hence the name of this State Park.  

The grounds had some lovely bronze 

sculptures of children...

and blooming flowers.  In February we don't see

this in Ohio!  I believe these are camellias?

The front entrance of the home shows that

 the windows actually reach clear to the

 floor, so when open on hot summer

 days the air could circulate.  I loved that

the porch completely encircled the home.

Unfortunately, photos were not allowed

inside the mansion, but it was fun to 'step

back in time' and see the treasures

of days gone by.  Above, 

one last shot of these gorgeous flowers.

Our trip to Eden Gardens was one of

 the last activities we did during our 

recent trip to the Florida Panhandle. 

 A marvelous way to end our stay!

Linking up with Elizabeth today,

and joining her T Tuesday link party.

Stop by her blog for a visit, there is 

always something interesting going on.

As part of our (tea) T Tuesday post,

we are encouraged to share something

 beverage (tea, T?) related...

'Fake Journal' entry, 2014

Since we visited a Southern mansion,

perhaps we should have tea and cakes?

Where have you been lately?

Layers of Documented Life

The Documented Life Project~the Journal,

is focusing on Layers this month.  Above,

the art journal spread for pages that were

to have five layers (or more) built up to

create the final art piece.

1.) I began by adhering different types

 of paper to the pages, including 

vintage book text and illustrations, 

ledger paper, and 

security envelope designs.

2.) A thin layer of gesso paint went on

next. I left the illustrations 'as-is' 

 just because I liked them that way.

3.) Now some fabric bits, more book text,

and a scrap of painted paper.

4.) Acrylic and watercolor paint were

added, and some small bits of embroidery.

The colors contrast with

 the black and white illustrations

The final layer is Sharpie pen.  I try to

repeat motifs from elsewhere in the 

composition into the pen work. The flower

drawings are repeated from 

the fabric scraps.

The words that came out

onto the page point up the

difference from the 'sweet' colors

and vintage illustrations.  

"In 2015 it seems that there is nothing left

to privacy any more...from television

commercials discussing our most

intimate bodily functions, to Tweets and

internet posts--nothing seems to be

off limits or Too Much Information!?

When did we trade our Dignity for money

and a consuming desire for attention?

(she said as she prepared to 

post her art work on-line)"

Linking up with Elizabeth's

T Tuesday party, and sharing yet 

another coffee cup drawing...

Wishing you a lovely St. Patrick's Day

with lots of Irish Luck, shades of

green, and sunshine!

Documenting Life in Layers

"Words with art friends."

I recorded phrases that I've heard from

art friends when we get together, from

blogger friends, and 

things I've said to them as well...

Let's face it. Friends make life a

lot more fun! This is a spread in my

Documented Life Project journal, and the

challenge was 'Writing -- Words with friends.'

"What lies beneath?"

The challenge was to use 'under-paper' from

your work table. Since I was away on vacation,

I used some paper that I had painted on

with my granddaughter, in addition to

other elements.

"When not to stop."

The month of February is all about layering.

Don't stop 'til you get enough...I liked this quote:

"A painting is never finished, it simply stops 

in interesting places."

This collage was influenced by the colors and

textures of the beach.

"Going undercover 1."

Sometimes you have to cover up portions of

an art piece that you like. Maybe it doesn't 

work with the rest of the piece, or maybe 

you are looking for the depth created by

many layers.  In this case, I decided to do

two separate pages instead of one spread.

Above, materials include origami paper,

painted paper, watercolor and Sharpie pen,

Asian calendar illustration, white gel pen,

and a hand-colored photocopy.

"Going undercover 2."  Layers:

1. Watercolor background

2.  highlighters and colored pen

3. cream acrylic paint 

4. book text and assorted design/painted papers

5. more watercolor (black ovals and shading)

 and Sharpie pen

I admit that vacation put me a bit behind on

the challenges, but I will take time this week

to get caught up on the three that are

percolating...

--Repeating elements

--Use at least 5 layers

--Mark Making as a layer element

Linking up with Elizabeth for T Tuesday, 

and posting a sketch from several years ago

 of my white nondescript coffee mug and

 thin bagel. Visit E. to see 

what the other participants are

sharing today, and what

 beverage they're drinking!

I'm also thinking about the annual

International Fake Journal Month

project coming up in April.  You can

see my Fake Journal from 2014 here.

I'm thinking about who my character 

should be, and how much time I will be

able to spend on a journal page each day.

So far, I've been a student of Japanese art,

a Shaman, and a cake decorator/event planner.

What should I be next?

If you think you might be interested in doing

a Fake Journal this year, click on the 

pink bulldog logo in the sidebar to go to

Roz Stendahl's IFJM blog.  It's a lot of fun

and you can pretend to be anyone you want to!

Travel Journaling

I had the marvelous opportunity to visit

Florida during the month of February...

gorgeous beach views and love the sound

of the waves!  The palm trees are

intriguing, and my drawing didn't quite

capture them faithfully, 

but it was fun to give it a shot.

Once again I entertained myself during

the long drive with some wobbly-lined

art journaling.  This page is just a 

list, but I enjoyed doing the Yellow Submarine

and the Octopus's Garden!

More quips from our 'haunted' GPS

device, Dr. Nightmare, above.

This is one of those 'list' pages similar to 

what I've seen on various blogs 

and 'Pinned' on Pinterest.

I had never done one like it, so ...

what better time than on vacation?!

It is surprising what a small plastic baggie

can hold in the way of scrapbook paper,

painted papers, tape, and bits of drawings...

Just add them to your journal with a little

glue, and the hours on the freeway

will fly by.  No scissors needed.

Just let 'er rip!

Random road signs, above.  This one is

still in progress, as I think it needs 

watercolor added.  I imagine the local

folk are immune to the humor of the

names of their roads and towns, but I

found them quite jolly!

Here's an herbal Peppermint tea collage

from a previous T Tuesday post...

hoping you are enjoying a nice cuppa

of whatever is your favorite.  Click on 

the link to see what others are doing for

T Tuesday.

It was quite a shock to leave Panama City Beach,

with temperatures in the 40's and 50's, to return

to Ohio temperatures of 12 degrees Fahrenheit!

Still anxiously awaiting Spring!