#DLP {storytelling}

the end of 2015 is quickly coming to a finish and Documented Life is ending their year with the prompt of storytelling this week.

before i had gone to the studio yesterday i had read partway through Orly Avineri's book "In my Bones." this book gives an intimate look into one of her art journals with some dialogue and thought provoking words. one paragraph talked about "primal" painting and not really having a plan before hand, which totally spoke to me yesterday.

as i was creating this journal page, i was not over thinking anything and actually grabbing and using some colors that i may not have always reached for when working and putting colors together.

but, i did take the time to make sure to add my storytelling throughout my page. i had gesso'd and put down some collage papers down first along with some initial color before writing; but, was sure to put my story down onto paper.

along with some pencil doodles. 

i love the texture that my collage papers added to this page.

happy monday. what is your story?

#DLP.... {cake by the ocean}

tgif.......wow. i don't know about you- but, i am very thankful it is friday. i did steal a few minutes last night to work in my art journal on latest DLP challenge. their featured artist this week is Mary Freeman- who i love! you must go and take a peek at her pages, so click on her name.

the challenge this week is using quotes and lyrics as storytelling.....which i also love. it is a favorite trick on mine for words. sometimes the words just flow out- usually if i am stressed out about something; but, other times, words dribble and i eek out a few. that is when i usually end up writing the words of whatever song is currently blasting from my ipod.

wanna listen to my current song obsession?..... below is the song and video- totally gonna make you smile.

art journal page {documented life project}

i took fifteen minutes last night for myself to play along with this week's challenge for DLP. this month's challenge is "storytelling with the written word." if you play along you know who Rae Missigman is- i love her use of 15 minutes to do pages and even though my list of things to do last night was long and, life has been so busy recently and a bit on the stressy-side,- i decided i could spare fifteen minutes to take care of my creative soul.

happy friday.....

art journal page {documented life project}

this week's challenge at Art to the 5th was to use a mask. their prompt, "mask" arade.......

i, of course was totally down with that. i love masks and stencils. these pics are from my folder that tries to hold the majority of the masks and stencils that i have.

as you can see....i don't clean any of them. and i will warn you....sometimes this does present a problem especially if i am using the Dylusion's inks as those are water based and will reactivate; but, sometimes that is part of the process.

these pages were started with paint and ink, and gold already on the pages and i started building up from there.

a little help from my masks and stencils;....and the use of my stabilo pencils. i used my green and black.

this page is a bit of a hot mess.....but, i do love the runs and drips and the mix of it all. sometimes it is easier to start on a page that already has something on it; and if it is a hot mess....that is when a mask can be a huge help- in that you can pick out a favorite spot and then, paint over the page to calm it down and pull the page together- which was exactly what i did with that pink/ red to pull this page together.

again- i loved this challenge. 

happy monday!

art journal page {documented life project}

painting in my art journal last night trying to keep the Documented Life Project challenge in mind, which this week is stencils, stamps, and masks. sometimes that transition from current projects back to more playful work seems like a struggle. i have been doing a lot of my printing and studio princesses which are small, tight, and confined within the tea bag and paper; so to go back to painting on even a large piece of paper- is a transition.

i started with a journal page that already had something down on the paper and no gesso this time; but, this pic is fairly far into my play at this point. i had used stamps and a stencil.

i love the juiciness and color lust of this pic.

i had a bit of a hot mess and needed to tone this page overall. i had glued some papers down, but, ended up ripping those back off revealing the white and original page underneath.

ended up with a bit of a mess, but, felt good to just play....happy tuesday!

#DLP advice offered

August 22
Art Challenge: Layered (Using Multiple Mediums)
Journal Prompt:  Speak to your younger self- what advice would you offer?

i maybe didn't use as many layers as i may be capable of; but, i like this girl and she has plenty of advice to tell my younger self.

• don't worry so much about what you look like; always be you
• i am not perfect (nor is anyone else)
• don't worry about whether or not others like you; some will, some won't and some will be on the fence....but, focus on those who do and like you for who you are and leave the rest behind and don't look back- keep moving forward

• enjoy flowers- the colors, the smells, and the wonderful shapes and textures
• don't follow the group- this is a piece of fabric for my background; create your own path
• be part of a group you love and share a passion with- be happy
• be interesting

happy monday!

#DLP #characters

took a little time to do some catch up with Documented Life..... played in my art journal this past weekend. the challenge this week was:

Art Challenge: Characters
Journal Prompt:  "If you're going to be weird, be confident about it!" Author Unknown

she is definitely a character.... a little colorful and quirky.

i really loved her pink hair and misshapen eyes; and the shadows.

happy monday.

#DLP {gelli plate printing}

this year especially with a senior graduating soon....life has been very busy and hectic; but, i am sneaking time and stealing moments in my studio space as this spring allows.

the last DLP challenge was to use the gelli plate while exploring paint and inks; and who can put that tool down?! i love mine and use it all the time for almost any project from tags and my art journal, to cards and as a paint palette.

here are a couple more pics my pages...

layered goodness of paint and stencils,spray inks, stabilo pencil and collage papers to finish off this journal pages.

and did you hear?.....Rae Missigman has stencils?!.....take a look here and get yours!

#DLP {making your mark}

posting my page for the challenge for the Documented Life Project- this one was the Making your Mark challenge. their featured artist for this challenge was Robin Mead and i loved her page and seeing her process for this challenge. (click on Robin's name to see her page.)

i did some mark making over and underneath the layers of paint and spray ink. i really liked the colors on this page. looking back at this challenge page, i almost feel like it is now, not quite finished though....i feel like adding some more doodles and marks after looking at this post pic. time shall tell.....

happy monday!

#DLP: Featured Artist {Layers You will Love}

so very excited and totally honored to be a part of the Documented Life Project as a featured artist this week. thank you, thank you Art to the 5th!

the month of february is all about layers you will love; and this particular week our challenge is to use at least five layers and our prompt is give me a high five. so let's get started.....

i am working in the dylusions's art journal and always gesso the pages to start. once i had the gesso down and dry- i started with gluing in some vintage book papers. these papers are thin and you can see i did not care if the paper was running the correct way, or covering the entire journal page. sometimes for me a layer is being able to peel back through the paper.

i then chose what colors i wanted to work with. starting with the orange and using an old credit card to scrap a thin layer of orange paint across most of the page; but, again, not all of the page.

the next layers for me was the use of dylusion's ink spray- both the pink, which i used a stencil, and white, which i simply sprayed. i also went back and peeled up loose paper that was not stuck well and had bubbled a bit from the moisture of the inks. 

these next few layers were adding more paint back through my stencil- like above.

now comes my favorite part- adding a little more pop of color into my pages with the turquoise, and a few strips of washi tape. the other layers i added was the words "yes you can" and the number 5 for our layers and high five....and a few splatters.

sometime layers can be overwhelming, but, work slowly if you need to, even if that means to step away for a bit and then come back; and choose your colors you want to work with. (i have a color wheel hanging in my studio space for me to always refer back to). 

i also added a zip of Adirondack butterscotch alcohol ink on the washi tape. i like how the paper of the tape absorbs the ink. then, adding a little stamping and some small paint circles for interest and detail.

i added some larger paint circles with the end of a toilet paper roll. :) those are the larger pink circles in the upper left corner, in the pic below.

i like this pic below- as you can just see the "you can, yes, you can"..... peeking through all the layers.

below you can see i added some notes in regards to this week's pages especially since this is the Documented Life Project (right?!)....i will confess,....the layers should have been easy, but, i did feel like i had to work for these pages. some come easy and sometimes the pages do not- but, always remember....yes, you can. even i have to remind myself sometimes that the point is to play; to experiment and take the time.

my end sentence says to "dream big".... listen to those inner whispers while you are playing. let the whispers blow away any self doubt that may try to dissuade you and just play; and if you have to- it is okay to not follow all of these rules.

i was feeling like my layers of layers had maybe gotten the best of me and i needed to calm all of this down a bit....so i added some white ink circles. i really liked how the white pulled the overall feeling of the page together.

here is a fuller view of the page below....the white ink blends well with the dylusion's inks and provides a softening to some of my bright colors.

welcome to my "layered" studio table. i hope you have managed to stick with me in this post....sorry it is super long! i had a great time making this though and if you made it to this point....give yourself a high five for sticking with me!!  here is a close up look at my final page...

thank you! and thank you Art to the 5th!