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!

Is It Spring Yet?

Do you have a visual journal?

What do you put in it?

Scraps, junk mail, odds and ends,

magazine or book clippings,

drawings, thoughts...?

I am more than ready for Spring,

and so when I saw this illustration of

Spring Beauties in a vintage book, I

knew I would find a place for it in

one of my journals.  It's my favorite

Spring flower.  Reminds me of my

grandparents' farm, where they bloomed

in the yard and in the pasture.

You can put just about anything in your journal,

even your coffee cup...well, at least a drawing

of your cup.  And if the rim comes out a bit

wonky, or the handle runs off the edge of

the page, that's ok.  Enjoy the moment of

creation!

Linking up with Elizabeth for T Tuesday,

over at Altered Book Lover.  Join the

link party!

For some Mardi Gras

art journaling, go to my 

Fake Journal blog.

Happy Carnival!

Art Journal Kickstarter

I received my complimentary copy of 

Art Journal Kickstarter, and am so pleased

to have my art work included in the book!

This book contains a wide variety of styles 

of art journal pages.  It's a great resource for

 tips, ideas and inspirations for 

 visual journal pages.

The art work that I submitted is on page 38, 

as seen above.  The right side is actually

a combination of drawing, painting, and

painted papers that I collaged onto

the page.  There is some finger paint in

there from a session with my grand kids!

Another tea cup sketch, in honor of

T Tuesday, over at Elizabeth's blog.

Stop by while you enjoy the

beverage of your choice!

DocumenTed Life ProjecT

The Documented Life Project 2015-The Journal...

Week two was to use the quote by Mary Shelley,

" The Beginning is always today."

Pthalo blue watercolor mixed with white gesso,

collage elements include painted paper 

and Sharpie marker.

The Week 3 challenge of the DLP was to 

use a Georgia O'Keeffe quote.

I chose a longer quote than the one suggested,

and the shapes are inspired by an O'Keeffe flower

painting, using vibrant watercolors.

Joining Elizabeth's T Tuesday link up party

over at Altered Book Lover blog,

and sharing an ornate vintage tea cup that

belonged to my husband's grandmother. The

flowers are in shallow relief around the outside

of the cup. This is a bit of my Fake Journal 

from 2014, which you can see here.

Hope you are enjoying a warm

beverage today, and visit the

T Tuesday party.

Notes, Intentions and Collage

The Documented Life Project-The Journal 2015:  Intentions for the year... in a Dylusions journal.  Materials include gesso, craft acrylic, collage, marker, and painted papers.  Some wonderful script on papers gifted me by a friend are peeking through.  

I liked the term "intentions" that Elizabeth K. used on her blog, so I blatantly appropriated the idea here.  

The theme for January's DLP is overcoming the fear of the blank page.  The first week's  challenge was to begin by collaging an assortment of papers onto the page to overcome the (perhaps intimidating) white space, and then create on top of the different papers with whatever medium you chose.  I also chose to draw a self-portrait over the painted and collaged page.

In another journal, I've included some pages of notes that just seemed  important to record.  Usually drawings or collage fill my art journals, but quotations, notes and "I wonder...?"  may also be included...

Linking up with Elizabeth for

the weekly T Tuesday party, and

sharing a journal page from last winter~

Thank goodness it's not 15 degrees F

below zero at the moment! But still

a good day for hot chocolate, or

coffee, or tea. Anything warming...

Discover

Here's to the discovery of

wonder, beauty, wisdom

and continued growth

in the New Year...

♦ ♦ ♦