Collage Books for Graduates

This is what I've been working on for the last 2 weeks--
collage books for graduates. "Success" is for a niece graduating
from high school. I found these great
tag books at Big Lots with covers already
decorated, and I added more elements.

Inside pages were plain cardstock,
which I covered with scrapbook paper,
added quotes & random advice,
and embellished.

This book (below) is for a nephew receiving
his associate's degree from a
local technical college.
It is harder for me to create things
with a "masculine" look,
can't use flowers and sparkles!

Found some great quotes about
fishing, which he likes...and he
likes a good joke, too...

The 'Celebrate' book (below) was created for another niece
graduating from high school. Little tag
in a 'library card' style pocket in the back
with congratulations message & fibers.
Little envelopes in the back of each book
for a cash gift...

Three books down and one to go...
I still have a book to make for a
college graduate...
Congratulations to all the graduates this spring!
"What lies behind us
and what lies before us
are tiny matters
compared to
what lies within us."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Art Journaling- Disorderly

"One of the adventures
of being disorderly is
that one is constantly
making exciting discoveries!"
-- A. A. Milne

Art Journal page
on watercolor paper.

I spent a lovely afternoon with friends making art.
We made "art journal pages" on watercolor paper
that can be added to an art journal or altered book.

The process:

• Quickly brush on a watercolor wash in one or two colors. Keep it quick and simple so you won't feel guilty about covering up some of it with collage! Let dry (you can use a hair dryer to speed up the drying if you want to)
  
• Collect and sort through magazine clippings, fabric, collage sheet images, painted papers, stickers, rubber stamp images, and any ephemera that you like.
• I try to go with a color theme when choosing which images to use. The images won't necessarily "go together," but the color combination and shapes please me.
• Place images around border of the page. Try several arrangements of images before gluing down. Overlap images, and also leave some spaces.
• After gluing down, add shading, cross-hatching, or additional color with colored pencils and artist's pastels
• Finish by drawing in textures, doodles, swirls etc. with a Sharpie marker
• Last, add the "journaling" part: your thoughts, what happened that day, philosophical ramblings, bits of poetry or an inspirational quote that you like. Write it in marker in your own handwriting. It's ok if it's not perfect like computer-generated lettering! Hand-drawn makes it uniquely you! (Pencil it in first if you must, but it's not necessary)
  

I like to use the "Rule of Odd Numbers"--repeat an element 3 times or 5 times. I also like to repeat shapes, colors or lines of the collaged elements, in the drawings that I add.

The look of the finished page is determined by the colors and images you choose. If you find certain images or themes often creep into your work, embrace and explore them! I am inspired by Teesha Moore's journal pages, and if you want to see her work, click on her link in the blog list on the right.

Art Journal Texture

I'm looking forward to giving a demonstration
and mini-workshop on art journaling for
some fellow artists this weekend. One of them
suggested creating a hand-out of doodles, drawings,
and patterns that can be used along with collage
as elements on art journal pages. Excellent idea!
But...the possibilities are endless, so it was difficult
to decide what to include. Many times my drawings
repeat or echo elements found in the collage pieces,
whether they are magazine clippings or painted or
stamped images. Repetition is an element that
can strengthen a composition, and hand-drawn
patterns create a texture that adds interest.

Art Journal Pages

Some thoughts from the book
The Artist's Way...
something all artists need to remind
themselves of...

I have noticed some blogs
promoting the idea that an art journal
is an "illustrated diary" and that it's not
just about art...for me that is not so.
My art journal is more about art than
it is about my daily life, but I do put in
whatever strikes my fancy...swatches, sketches,
quotes, whimsy, magazine clippings,
collage, ideas for art...
I think my art journal can be whatever I like
and whatever inspires me.
Adapt the ideas that you like and ignore
the ones you don't...it's your journal
and you should follow your
own muse!

Art Journal Page

Art journal page
magazine images, acrylic,
watercolor, pen, Sharpie marker,
on recycled cardboard

Mind Map

Map for the soul...
Personal Map Making challenge for
True North Arts group...
showing priorities and 
precious things in my life.
Art journal page, mixed media using
pastels, watercolor, colored pencils, and
Sharpie marker. This came out looking
a little like a cross between Peter Max art
and the green heroine in "Wicked,"
but that's ok...it makes me smile.

"Boy Play"

Art journal pages:
watercolor and Sharpie marker,
first sketched in pencil, than painted, then
outlines & journaling added.

Pages with journaling below:
a day with a 3 year-old boy...

Some items sketched while he watched
cartoons on TV, some after we had
been to a nearby state park...

We ended our park visit just as
the skies clouded and rain poured down...
even got some hail and ice!

Mermaid Paper Doll

"Firelands Mermaid II" 2004
Art doll from watercolor paper.
Watercolors, ribbon, glitter glue, seashells.
Her hair is made from green ribbon that
has been braided, and seashells were painted
and glittered to form a "crown" of sorts...
all color is watercolor, and
seashells to cover her little breasts...
green pipe cleaners to connect sections of her body.

I was inspired to share her after seeing the
lovely mermaid posted by What's Up Roc.

On the back is a quote from "Alice in Wonderland:"
"...the time has come the walrus said
to speak of many things...of shoes and ships
and sealing wax, of cabbages and kings---
and why the sea is boiling hot and
whether pigs have wings..."

My son and daughter worked at a camp
for several summers, and one of their friends
joked that there were mermaids in the pond...
thus inspiring this mermaid. I hope she makes you smile...

Colour Influences the Soul

Art inspired by Kandinsky--
Sharpie extra-fine point marker
and watercolor in Art journal.
Wassily Kandinsky quote from
Concerning the Spiritual in Art:
"Generally speaking, colour is a power
which directly influences the soul.
Colour is the keyboard, the eyes are
the hammers, the soul is the piano with
the strings. The artist is the hand
which plays, touching one key or another,
to cause vibrations in the soul."

Art Journal Page

Inspired by Kandinsly...
art journal page drawn in
Sharpie extra fine-point marker...
a bit like Zentangle with Kandinsky
abstract shapes.