Page from my Mixed Media Art Journal

Hey there!

I wanted to share a page from my Art Journal. I used to think that art journaling stopped at the pre-teen years but discovered that like with any art form, it has no age restrictions. I really enjoyed creating this mixed media page with scraps of found paper, gesso, and acrylic paints.

I transformed the simple black hardcover with a printed fabric and a large decorative button.

 Step 1 - I used Decoupage Glue to bond this background paper to two pages of my journal. 

Step 2 - I used Gesso to mute the designs so that only the sections I wanted would peek through

 Step 3: Then I added yellow and red acrylic paint and scrap papers. I used bubble wrap to press and titanium white to make textured designs on the page.

Step 4: Then, I added a few more touches, an old picture of myself at 18 I found in my scrap container and a few words. Then, dusted it with some glitter paint and a generous coat of Clear Glaze.

Page From My Story-Drafts Book

Hey there!

The muse always calls me at the most inconvenient moments - like this morning on the bus when my story-writing drafts book was tucked away in my bag. I never write or read when traveling because of pesky motion sickness.

I had this Chekhov volume from the library in hand because I had planned to read one of the stories my writing prof suggested while I waited for the bus. The bus came lumbering down the road just as I cracked it open, but something about the smell of the book triggered a memory of summer days and despite general feeling of nausea, I jotted something down...in the library book...in pencil...and I swear I will erase it...lol and later transcribe it to the notebook stipulated for said purpose. :)



That notebook is a grey Semikolon notebook from TJMaxx in January and I have been using it for brainstorming and  writing my short stories.







<--- This page is a recent writing session for my story, "Birdie."

It was actually going well. I know it doesn't appear that way. lol.


Writing using paper and pen has always been my method. Once I get to the computer, I am in the revision stages.

There is something personal and intimate about using a fine-point gel pen to create meaningful strokes on sturdy sheets of paper.






Favorite Things:


I love the thick, textured, off white pages!! ------------------------------>


I love that it's not too fancy, like the ones I use for daily journaling, but not plain either! It can take abuse and I think that gives it character.

I like the pattern on the inside of the cover. 

From my Writing/Art Collage Notebook

Hey there!

This post features my first writing/collage memory book. One exercise to keep my writing muscles active is to write from prompts each day. I found this great spiral bound drawing book with a ruled page on the left and a blank space on the right for illustration and immediately knew I wouldn't just be sketching on the right-hand side. So, I created a prompt jar with questions I wanted to explore about myself.  Here is one of my favorite pages I created in June 2013 on the prompt - "What effect does music have on you?"

 For closer views, just click each image and have a read. ;)

I purchased this grey, spiral-bound Artist Loft notebook from Michaels. Normally, I don't care for spiral bound books (though I have about four ruled notebooks that are spiral bound and more than 10 spiral bound sketchbooks...lol) but I just LOVED the idea of the space to write and space to draw. It was a perfect way to merge my two interests.

Favorite things:

• The lined pages are separated from the blank spaces
• The crisp white pages here are sturdy (though I am partial to tan, brown, and off-white pages) 

Page From My Writing Journal

Hey there!

Today I wanted to share a couple pages from my writing journal. Keeping a writing journal has been very cathartic for my process. I started the journal as partly a requirement for a graduate writing workshop but continued it because I found it kept me accountable. It became sad to have to report when I did not write, but soon, I gained momentum as the semester progressed. So now, even as the summer months approach, I still find myself using this journal to document my progress and setbacks.

Here is a page from the early days when writing was slow (Click the image to read the entry) :

Here is a page from one of the later entries.

About the notebook: This is a Bombay Brown leather bound hand-sewn A5 journal I purchased from Barnes and Noble.

 

Favorite things about it:

• Tan pages
• Leather tie 
• The stamps I use don't bleed through.
• Use mainly felt-tip extra-fine point gel pens.