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!

Mini Book from ATC's

I made a mini book from Artist Trading Card

sized bits of recycled cardboard.  I used

illustrations and text from an old

book about Alaska.

This ATC mini-book also combines

fabric scraps, assorted papers, and

my watercolor and pen drawings.
(click on any image to enlarge)

Most of the pages have minimal additions

to the background image.

I used words cut from the text

to create a "found poem."

I liked the contrast of the Northwest

art images and the watercolor, right.

This was a new way for me to 

use the Artist Trading Card size format.

I put this together while watching television,

trying not to over think the process and

using what I had on hand.

It's a format that has infinite possibilities...

The text reads:

nomads adapting to the signs
In the chapel
printed in Japanese
reviving interest in
the Northwest Indian arts
hostile beauty
faded into the distance.

Sewing an Art Journal

Art Journal sewn from scraps

and filled with collage.  The

cover fabric was a wonderful

abstract print of bright colors.

Quilting, collage, and painted

muslin complete the cover.

Fabric, paper, and drawing are

often combined in my collages.

Recycled collage of many papers, fabric and drawing

on the right, with painted and stamped details.

I just folded the already completed collage

in half and bound it into the book.

The Jasper Johns quote on the 

bottom left is a favorite...

"Generally, I am opposed to painting which is concerned

with conceptions of simplicity. Everything looks

very busy to me."

Ever wonder why the way we look

is somewhat of a surprise to ourselves?

I still think I should look 25...*sigh*...

Post # 250!

Mixed Media Postcards

Mixed media postcards 
from recycled cardboard,
fabric scraps, and
watercolor with pen.  

Mixed media postcards
and collage can be
created with almost
anything, and I
decided to use
some bright orange
masking tape in this
collage. I drew on it
with Sharpie pen.

Hearts were sewn
together before gluing to
the postcard, as was
the decorative stitching
with floss. Because the
watercolor papers
will run if gotten wet,
I will probably mail in
an envelope instead of
sending as a postcard.

Several pieces of fabric were stitched

together to make a rectangle, and then

the heart was cut out by folding in half

and cutting free-form.  Once I had 

several hearts made, I glued 

background fabric to 4" x 6" cardboard.

Then I arranged the fabric and paper

elements for the final collage.

I have seen beautiful fabric

postcards made with an assortment

of fabrics, fibers and stiffeners, 

all stitched together on the machine.

My love of fabric makes these

fabric collages a joy to create

and  to send!

To see more of my
mixed media postcards,
go HERE. 

Art Journal Faces and Folk Art

Art journal pages created with

scraps of lined paper and maps

as the background for drawings and

an Artchix paper doll.

Collage made from

more scraps and the paper doll,

with magazine text and a 

vintage advertising image.

Art journal page:

Scraps of one of my ink drawings that

was photocopied and cut up. The 

image of the girl may be from

Artchix, but I am not sure...

You can use almost anything in
your art journal pages...

Magazine images and paper scraps

with my drawing/watercolor.

Subdued shades of watercolor

inspired by  a vintage photo.

Collage using

more scraps of drawings and watercolors,

this time brightly colored doodles...

A sketch:

I've told myself that I need to do

more sketching this year. Toddlers are

a challenging subject as they don't 

stand still much! Caught this pose

while she was watching tv.

When I want to do a quick 

journal page, a folk art flower

and a quick quote or thought

make a satisfying exercise...

Many of Emily Dickinson's poems

are quite sad, but this excerpt

speaks to me of brighter moments.

Listen for the song of hope

in your heart, and in your art!