How I make my journals

Artist journal, (again)

This journal is all made by hand, the covers, the binding, everything! I am working over an old journal and re-doing it. I love how some of the old elements show through. I have ripped, torn, and re-figured the pages, adding new work as I go along. I use acrylic paints and the backgrounds are watercolor washes.

New work in a larger journal

I like this larger format, it measures 9 x 12 inches. Most of my current creations wear masks, but for some reason these characters don't even mind that they are not wearing masks! I created this piece with watercolor, Pitt Pens, and used collage elements from an old anatomy book.  I'll try to get a better photograph when it is not raining outside!

(update,,,,,,,I was able to photograph these in better lighting)

"Free at last"

"Free at last"

8 x 10, Strathmore cold press watercolor paper, artist grade watercolors, graphite, Pan pastels.
(click image to make large)

New art

"Friends"

I am making some new art and I am getting ready for opening my etsy shop again. My new work will feature watercolor illustrations. The sizes will be 8 x 10, and I am creating them on watercolor paper. I hope to have them in my shop by the end of the week. These offerings will be different than my previous acrylic work, but will still be characteristic of my "touch of whimsy". I am excited about my new direction!

More artist journal pages

If you have been following my blog you have noticed that I am doing a collaborative with fellow artist Syd. Here are a few pages from our journal. I like using watercolors as well as acrylics, they give the paintings a whole different "feel".

More artist journal pages

I thought you may like to see more of our journal collaborative. Here are some of the latest pages. The journal pages below are by Syd. I love her free flowing nature and color choices!

Art journal collaborative

Syd's and mine

Syd's

Syd and I have been working in our collaborative journal project. We each do 3-4 pages and send them back and forth to each other. We have a style that compliments each other. I will be sending mine back to her very soon.

Journal pages

Here are two more pages that I created in my artist journal that I am doing with my art buddy Syd. We are doing an artist collab of sorts, working in journals to each other and passing them back and fourth after we complete a couple of pages. This journal will be ready to mailed this week. I can't wait to see Syd's journal!

Some new pages (maybe an old one)

I may have posted one of the journal pages,,,, hmmm,,,but the one on the left is new. I am using a number 8 graphite pencil which I really like for the lines. It smears slightly and allows me to manipulate the line a little.  I used artist grade acrylics and Pan pastels.

2 new journal pages

Yikes!

I ate like a girl today

Here are my latest journal pages. In the first photo "Yikes", I was experimenting with Peerless Watercolors. They are watercolors that are made on tablets of paper strips. I simply wet my brush and pick up the amount of color I want for my page, then paint it on. This booklet of watercolors is terrific to travel with. There are no paint tubes or pans of paint.  It looks like a little book with watercolor paint samples in it. I used it for the background in this journal page. The rest of the painting is done with acrylics. I added a touch of scrapbook paper for their mask and ears.

Here is another idea for your art journal. (2nd photo)   When your BF says something cute, journal about it. (and then paint a silly picture of him!)  Oh, and make sure he is wearing bunny slippers!

xo...

Hopscotch

I remember loving hopscotch when I was a little girl. We played it on the school grounds. We would draw with chalk on the gravel pavement. You would toss a rock on a square and jump over that spot until you reached the end, being careful not to step on a line. My BFF and I played it all the time. I think I was the hopscotch queen!

Progress in my artist journal

Created with Pan pastels and acrylic.

Journal pages

If you have been following my blog lately you will notice I am creating a lot of journal pages! Here are my latest in my messy studio! I have been using Pan Pastels in my work and LOVE them! They have a nice feel to them and I love the way they spread over acrylics. I'll be getting more colors soon.

New journal pages

I had time to work in my journal again. This journal will be the one I use for my collab with Syd (See previous post). I have 4 pages done at this point and will send it on to her to work in when she is ready.

I also created another art piece today following my bird theme for Etsy, look for it very soon. I hope to list it tonite or tomorrow.

Journal pages revised

 

I decided to re-do the faces on my journal page. The first ones seemed too long, and just not my style. I really like taking a chance to re-do something and keep working on it until its what you want. Don't be afraid to keep painting, and painting over what you don't like.  Another tip I have is to wait to the next day and look at your art with fresh eyes.  Sometimes getting away from it for a little while helps you decide what you need to change or revise.  This is created in my new journal from Strathmore.   Happy painting!

Ying and Yang

I have completed another journal page, and now it's ready for my text.  I always paint my images first, then add the text later.  I can do that anywhere, in a coffee shop, outside, at the beach, where ever, because the painting part is done.  I kinda like the flying house birthday cake!  The wings have pink glitter on them,,,,yummy!

Journal page

When I was thinking about creating this page I wanted to fill it up as much as possible, with words, text, color, etc. I made some changes as I went, as my art is always evolving, even as I create it. I start with a thought then just let the words flow as they come to me. I love my color palette here, and am loving the use of gouache.

Strathmore journal page

Here is a start to another journal page. I have mostly completed the main background. I will be adding more color, maybe another image and text. I thought you might like to see what it looks like in the beginning stages. I live in Seattle and this time of year you can hear an owl in the far distance hooting into the night. I love thinking of how happy he/she may be sitting high atop one of the ceder trees.

Artist journal

I have been working away in my new Strathmore Artist Journal. This one is the the bigger 9 x 12 size. Here's a peek at my pages. I made the polaroids in the on-line photo editing site called Picnik,,, I love Picnik! Its very easy to use.
Strathmore Artist Journals make their debut this summer!