Thank You! | Art Journal Page

Another day, Another page!

This time I didn't have anything in mind, since I had actually forgotten to make a page for the day. I only remembered when my friend asked me what the next page is like!

With a completely empty brain, I grabbed the pages I was going to work on and looked for something to stick them together for the duration of the creative process. I look and I see the folder sticking out with the strips of paper that I had journaled on a long time ago and decided to save for art journaling. 

Earlier that day I was working with a wood burning tool, turning a place mat, with a lace design, into a stencil. I didn't believe (at the time) that I had cleared enough of the design to actually use it on the page I was creating, so I thought nothing of it. 

Having had an earlier conversation with my friend about the art supplies I use. I realized that I had always found it challenging to use water colors! But! when I was finished with sticking the strips of journaling paper I saw a nice background that wanted to be created. So, I grabbed my water color pallet (I got my from a local store called Action, from the kids' craft corner.) And started coloring. 

It's interesting how a page can decide where it wants to go. I really had no idea what I was going to make and had decided to be open for everything that day. 

Seeing those beautiful blues on the page I felt I could use part of the place mat that I had cleared enough just for that little corner. So, I did that... then playing around with placing the place mat made me see that I can also use another part of it that was clear enough for just one side of the page! I just did it. Because i was using wall filler, it turns out to be very hard when it dries with sharp edges, I just used sand paper to smooth those enough that they wouldn't be scratchy to the touch.

Since I was still busy with water colors and didn't really feel like bringing out my acrylic paint, pure lazy and not inspired to use them here. I was pulled towards my water color pencils. I used that to add more depth to the raised stencil print. 

Even though the pencil was working OK, I was not sure I would be able to get the tip into all the grooves of the other piece I wanted to do. I then grabbed my water colors again and chose a brush, you'll see me use 3 different brushes, the third was the best to get into the nooks and crannies :) 

At this point I felt that the page itself was nearing completion, for the background and the details. Just adding a border was enough, then the words "Thank You."

I don't usually add journaling text to my pages, but this time I felt a flood of words that wanted to be on that page. Since this page was created out of thoughts of gratitude, I let them flow. I used a silver color gel pen to do that. It surprised me that there was so much to say and so much to write. Writing all those things put me in such a good, happy and grateful stance that I even started crying from pure happiness! 

Now I know how Monique used to feel when she was working on her BOPA. I thought that maybe I will start my own "Gratitude Series," but I feel that I would rather just create the pages with the "intention" and without limits! When you start a series it is supposed to have an end, and I don't want to put an end to this. 

Even watching the video after I had uploaded it onto YouTube, I still went back to that moment, remembering everything I was grateful for and going into a meditative trance. Interesting experience that I would like to repeat!

When was the last time you wrote down what you are thankful for? It is quite therapeutic, I would recommend it for anyone, at any time! Just give it a try and you'll understand what I mean :)



Supplies used: 
- Recycled journaling paper
- Water based glue & glue stick
- Matt medium 
- Gesso 
- Water color paint
- Water color pens
- Wall filler
- Permanent marker 
- Gel pens

Beauty Is In The Eyes Of The Beholder | Art Journal Page

Another Day, Another Page!

This page was inspired by Bob the Beholder and Gren Razortooth (the Goblin) from a fantasy comic that I have been following (YAFGC). The first few strips were imprinted into my brain because they were so funny!

The quote "Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder!" has also stuck with me. You have the same saying said in different words in almost every culture. It reminds me also that when you see the beauty in someone, even though they may not see it themselves, this doesn't mean it is not there or that it is an illusion! When you see beauty in everyone around you, then you know that you are really blessed, because this makes your world beautiful! This will happen regardless of what people might say or think about each other, as long as you hold on to what you see! My motto is "My perception, my world!"

Did I have any idea how this page would turn out? No. 
Did I plan to draw Bob and Gren here? No

I had been thinking and wanting to draw Bob or Gren for a while, but I was scared as I haven't done comics before! Not even the human body, apart from the faces I've been making recently. 

I initially just started the page by using scraps of paper that had some paint on them and I didn't want to throw them out, nor leave them where they were. You see, the folder where I keep mys scraps of paper is still quite big and full and I have decided to make it my mission to empty it soon :)

So, while using those scraps and finding those flower forms that I had used in one of my ABC Motivation Art Journal pages, I thought, aha, nice and pretty! You can't go wrong with flowers!

Little did I know that they can also be transformed. Made me feel like when someone gives you some shape on a piece of paper and they ask you to complete the shape, some make it decent other make it a sexual image. Goes to show that what you see is not necessarily the same as what I see!

I had so much of the water based glue that I also wanted to use. It is cheaper than matt medium and more fluid than a glue stick. Only downside, that I discovered, is that it soaks the actual paper you are working on. So it was a good thing that I hadn't used Gesso to prime the page :)

This is the creative process, it's amazing to see how this page was transformed, completely unexpected, even for me :) Enjoy!

This is the final result, which I think is pretty good!

Supplies used: 
- Recycled paper with left over paint
- Paper napkins (dollars and euros)
- Water based glue
- Acrylic paint
- Gesso
- Water color pencils for shading on Bob the Beholder!
- Permanent marker for details
- Matt medium (to glue the flowers and protect the final result)
- Glossy varnish (to make the eyes pop)

Accept What Is, Let Go Of What Was & Believe In What Will Be! | Art Journal Page

Another day, another page :)

I started this page with recycled paper that I used to wipe excess paint on. I liked the flowing colors of the paint, even though they are a bit bold and somewhat loud! 

I tried to frame the page, to see what images would pop up. However, and much to my dismay, nothing did. I talked to my mum on skype for a bit over an hour and tried to get her to help me out, what to do with this page... but she was also shocked at the boldness of all those colors :(

All I knew that I wanted to use was text book paper for the eyes, as this page was going to have something to do with knowledge that I've learned. How I was going to incorporate those eyes was not known to me!

I tried to use different things, off camera, but nothing seemed to fit. In the end I decided to go with my original idea of using a, somewhat larger than usual, face. I had to put those eyes somewhere!

Using my newly purchased skin tone acrylic paint, I'm happy I decided to invest in this, and an old Red Ocher that I got a long time ago, I think it all turned out well. I also believe that when using skin tone, the red ocher seems to work the best to make natural looking shades on the faces.

I hadn't planned on using water color pencils for the eyes, but while I was talking to my mum and telling her the cheap supplies that I managed to find, one of them was that box of pens. I felt a bit intimidated by them because they didn't  work as I had expected them to. They are nothing like the Inktense water color pencils a lot of art journalers use.... but it is what I could find... now to figure out how to use them to their advantage! I had them and I can better use them. 

I have to admit that they worked out perfectly for the details on the eyes, in my opinion! I've never drawn eyes with so much detail. 

Once the face was finished I did some journaling using gel pens, following the lines of the existing background. Those gel pens, when I used the mat medium to protect page, it smudged the ink... That was actually a good thing, cause I don't really want to be able to read all my journaling :) Nice technique to remember for future pages :D

After the camera was turned off (out of memory) I decided to use the black marker to show the black of the eyes better and also the outline of the iris. I also used a white marker that I still have to make light dots on the eyes. Followed by a layer of glossy varnish. It made the eyes just pop... I wish I had done that on camera, but I would have to wait to upload the video and then film it, and I couldn't wait to use the markers :) Sorry, next time I'll make sure to work faster and try and fit everything in the video. 

Another set of art lessons learned, by trial and error and work around :D

This is the final result. Do you also feel that the head is moving closer to you and the background falling away? or am I the only one?

Enjoy the creative process: 

Supplies used: 
- recycled paper
- glue stick (to stick paper)
- acrylic paint
- glitter (used the tips of the glitter on the little acrylic tubes to make more details directly with the tubes on the paper)
- permanent markers
- water color pens (for the eyes)
- glossy varnish for the eyes
- matt medium to protect the page.

Actions Cure Fears | Mixed Media Art Journal Page

Another day, another page!

This page is inspired by the Fern plant that I found the other day, A quote from an audio book I was listening to and Monique's touch drawing technique in making faces with individual expressions. 

Even though the pages I used already had a nice color scheme on them, I didn't have those colors already mixed and didn't feel that I could replicate the exact colors again. So I had to improvise and try to use the basic colors. Hence the spreading of the yellow, green and red. 

It felt good just blotting paint all over the place and spreading it with the plastic card :) Until I saw the result and though to myself "Oh, Oh! What am I going to do with this mess? This is not what I had intended!" :(  That was the moment I decided to walk away from this project and come back to it later. 

While I was away I remembered the video I had seen from Monique that I wanted to try out myself. So I decided to do the that now. I used the anti stick silicone mat (that green thing you see under my page) to do the job, instead of the glass plate that Monique used. It worked well, even though I only made a few faces, I still had one I felt I could use!

I thought, I can always put a face on one side and write something on the other. I felt that if I added any more paint to this page it could turn into a bigger mess!

The Fern: A few days ago, while walking outside, I found a bunch of artificial fern plant in the bushes. It stood out because of the vibrant green of the leaves in contrast to the real bushes that were almost leafless! I saw it and though "could I use this in my art journals?" I am not into having those plants around me in the house because they just collect dust, so I wanted to see if I could use it. Of course  it was filthy, so I soaked it for a day in hot water and dish soap and the next day washed it and soaked it a few times just to get off all the USOs (Unidentified Stuck Objects). I also removed the metal, which was rusty, and the plastic holding the leaves to the metal because that was also broken and dried out. It was a big job, but now I have a bag full of leaves/branches that I can use in art projects. 

I used the fern leaves as the woman's hair and a few to put behind the quote. I believe it turned out well, I was satisfied with the result! I learned a lot from what does and what doesn't work for the supplies I used this time :)

Check out how the mess started and was saved :) 

When was the last time you salvaged something that was meant to be trashed?


Supplies used: 
- Strips of recycled paper to hold pages together for spread and to protect other pages
- Glue stick (works better on paper than matt medium here)
- Gesso
- Acrylic paint
- Matt medium to secure transfer paper (with face outline) as well as the leaves. It worked surprisingly very well to secure the leaves that I couldn't secure with glue!
- Cardboard (yes, still in love with that stuff!)
- Glue (acetone base, to stick the leaves, but that didn't work well)

I Love You | Art Journal Page

Good morning world! Another day, another art journal page/spread :) 

This page is inspired by: - Black gesso, which is a bit scary for me still, but hey! at least I'm trying! - Cardboard, which I seem to have established a loving relationship with and want to use it everywhere. - Emotions, I believe the word says it all!

This time I took the plunge and stuck with the black gesso background and decided to try and see if the acrylic pain set I got would be thick enough with color to make a difference. I was pleasantly surprised, especially that those little tubes, even though they are so tiny, did do the trick. I had recently also purchased another set from Dirk (local supermarket) who had them on offer for 99 cents :) Lucky me!

I was in a loving and grateful emotional state and focusing on happy loving thoughts and memories, so I guess turning those bits of cardboard into hearts was inevitable! 

On hindsight, I feel that if I had kept to only using one set of hearts instead of two (on either side) it would have been better.. and moved the text to the "empty" side of the page. Lesson learned for next time. 

It seems that every time I make a page and see the results, I keep thinking that Less would have been MORE! Live and learn, so they say :)

Here is the full spread! Do you see what I mean?

Here is how it was all made: 

Supplies used where:
- Strips of recycled paper to protect the edge (works better than old book paper and masking tape)
- Glue stick to secure the paper strips
- Black gesso
- Acrylic paint
- cardboard
- heart shaped puncher (for the little hearts)
- permanent marker (for the text)
- Matt medium to protect the page and secure cardboard (should have used glue stick for cardboard, lesson for next time)

When The Paint Shows Its Face, Art Journal Page

Another art journal page that starts with absolutely no plan.  I just did it! I wanted to keep the blue paint imprint that was already on one of the pages but it went into a completely different direction. I didn't stop it, just kept following the feeling to see what would happen in the end. At so many different points I was thinking "What a MESS?!" and "What do I do with this now?" 

The best question I kept asking myself was the last one "What can I do now?" Keep asking that and trying different things. I saw faces in the paint, but they were scary ones. So I decided to try and soften the colors a bit. I used yellow craft acrylic, which is not very solid, and that didn't work. I then try to use some gesso, but that also didn't really help much because that was also transparent. 

I had to take a deep breath and grab the white paint, which I know is thicker than all that I have tried. I also had the fear that this might cover the whole thing and all my texture and beautiful raised colors would be wiped off... I then remembered that I can use sandpaper, I have plenty of that. And that was just what I did. I've never tried this technique before. Everyone else makes it all look so easy! 

Anyway, so I did that, got over my fears and then... what next... I had no idea.... I put the page down for a few hours and kept looking at it from time to time.  Every now and then I kept seeing some eyes, lips.... but mostly alien looking features :) And I didn't feel like getting into any discussions about Aliens! 

I wanted to have more vibrant colors on the page, but that didn't look as if it was even a possibility, not for me anyway!

Take another deep breath and just go for it. I started outlining the faces I saw and making them more visible. I didn't want to use other colors than the initial ones I had used. I didn't know what else would happen, I had also been spending too much time in contemplating what to do, instead of just getting on with it!

I have to admit, that it was funny how, as soon as I got the courage to start outlining and painting the faces, that more faces kept popping out from the page!!! It was only scare when I asked myself "should I show this face?" Only when I decided to just get on with it and show it anyway, since it was already there, that I started having fun with it. 

I made piece with all the white space on this page spread and I'm happy with all the lessons I learned from the process of making it :)

When was the last time you started something and kept doubting yourself half way, and then had a blast towards the end?

Supplies used: 

- Gesso

- old book pages to protect other pages (better to use paper matching the same colour of your background)

- matt medium to glue down paper (better to use glue stick, cheaper and dries a lot faster)

- acrylic paint

- pencil, for outlining

- permanent markers

The Past Vs The Present, The Now, The Here, The Moment Art Journal Page

Back to normal art journaling after the ABC Series :)

 

After working on the ABC art journal for a long time and going on a pretty long break, it was nice to get the creative juices flowing again. This is the 2nd page I did after the ABC series.  This page started out with two pages that had some recycled paint from stamps on it and I had no idea what to do!!

Starting with the background, I thought I would splash some color and see where that will take me. I was not planning this page at all, but all I knew I wanted to do was a spread and just follow intuition. 

After putting the colors on the background I stared at it for a while and saw a face emerging from the paint. Yes, it's that old wise woman... at lease I think it's a woman with nice green shiny hair. have to admit that once you take a break and walk away, like Aaron advised in one of his pages (when you get stuck, just walk away for a while). It's amazing what you start to see on your page! 

I just went with my gut feeling and followed the page. I usually use English text on my pages, but because this woman turned out to be facing the other direction, I opted for using Arabic text. 

I also don't usually doodle on my art journal, but this time it felt right, and I might do that again. 

The message of this page is to leave the past behind and to focus on the present and what we are busy with RIGHT NOW! Lingering on the past wont help, unless we are re-evaluating the lessons we have learned!

When was the last time you caught yourself lingering on the past and not enjoying the moment that was right in front of you?

Supplies used: 

- Masking tape to protect the previous page (only down side is that it curls a bit when heat is applied)

- Soft pastels

- Gesso

- Matt medium to seal soft pastels (which doesn't actually work that way :()

- Acrylic paint

- Metallic fabric paint

- Permanent markers

Binding The ABC Motivation Art Journal

Once I had finished the journal, the big question was "How to Bind this?" I was planning to use the original metal spiral that came with the sketch book that I had used, but I was not feeling entirely comfortable with that idea. I honestly don't really like the metal feel of it. So I decided to investigate. However, during that time I was only able to find videos and instructions regarding book binding techniques. None of them would meet my needs as I had to bind individual pages and allow the binding to show all edges of each page. 

I recently subscribed to Monique's Life True Colours. Just in time! I would say :) Because she had started again on her BOPA and the way she was binding each page was perfect for my own journal. I thought to myself "AHA! Finally!" However, Monique didn't go into details (in her BOPA) videos about how she started this binding, so I did some research and  came to the video by Karin Bartimole where she explains in detail how to do this, to start and finish it off as well, which was just what I needed. 

I chose my thread (natural fiber), followed the instructions, and was very satisfied with the results.

I have to admit though, that the rope/thread I had chosen was a bit too thick and rough for my pages. You'll notice that the Z page was damaged by the rope but I fixed that by stapling the torn part and just continuing. 

The nice thing with this method is that if I don't  like it, after I had finished everything. I can always go and change that. That is because nothing is glued!

Supplies used: 
- Hole puncher (also used for leather)
- Binding rope (Bindtouw in NL)

ABC Motivation Art Journal Covers (Front & Back)

I finally managed to make the covers.  I wasn't sure what to do for the cover, since I already knew the title. I had those left over mis-prints of some of the journal pages, so I decided to use them. Since I enjoyed collaging so much in the last few pages of this journal I decided to stick with that.  And because I didn't want any one page in particular to stand out - no text..etc. - I thought to best cut the pages to pieces and use them on the page for the background. I did have that huge blue flower from the "U" page, but it is much bigger than the original since the original page was A5 and this flower was printed for an A4 page. The only new technique I used here was making my own washy tapes and using them. 

For the inside of the covers I chose the two quotes that felt would  fit the best: 
- Front cover: When the going gets rough, the tough get going!
- Back cover: You can always start over!

Supplies used: 
- Recycled mis-prints
- Matt medium to glue
- Masking tape, for washy tape
- Homemade stencil
- Acrylic paint
- Gesso

Z for Zoom In On Love | ABC Motivation Art Journal Page

About this page:

All the self-development and inspirational stories I have read about other people, it all boils down to one thing "LOVE." You must love yourself and love what you do and that is when you will be happy.

Supplies used:

- Napkin

- Glue

- Acrylic paint

- Water color pens

- Hair Spray to seal

Y for You Are So Beautiful | ABC Motivation Art Journal Page

About this page:

This page was inspired by seeing so many artists drawing owls in their journal and seeing this image on a very old (almost 40 years old) water color box. The owl on the box did have ears, but I wasn't sure about that!

Supplies used:

- Water color pens

- Acrylic paint

- Hair Spray to seal page

X for X Your Fears | ABC Motivation Art Journal Page

About this page:

The page says it all, X your fears and you might be surprised. If you can come up with another motivational word starting with the letter "X" please feel free to share :)

Supplies used:

- Matt medium to glue

- Recycled paper with leftover paint

- Acrylic paint

- Permanent marker

- Water color pencil

W for Whatever Makes You Happy | ABC Motivation Art Journal Page

About this page:

Inspired by the advertisement from Nike Inc. with their catchy term "Just Do It!" There is not much to say about this page, accept follow your heart and do what you enjoy as much as you can. Even though sometimes you must do things that are less enjoyable, there is a lesson in every task and every experience.

Supplies used:

- Matt medium to glue

- Recycled paper with leftover paint

- Old book page

- Acrylic paint

- Permanent marker

V for Visualize | ABC Motivation Art Journal Page

About this page:

If you've seen "The Secret" or read it, you'll know that it is always talking about visualizing your dreams/goals for them to manifest. Not to mention the gratitude involved! But, I've read a lot from the authors that were featured in the movie and even got into Psycho Cybernetics. They all say the same thing, not just to visualize, but to get into the "feeling" of having achieved your goals or realized your dreams. Like when someone asks you "how would you feel if you had everything you wanted right now?" or "what would it be like for you to have/do all that you desire?" Turns out that it is not just about visualization, because not all of us are visual, but it is about you getting into that feeling and hanging onto it long enough for it to change the vibration you are sending out to the Universe. I use it often, but I'm visual. This page is like a visualization aid or what they call in "The Secret" a "Vision Board" for a particular dream.  What do you do to get to that feeling phase?

Supplies used:

- Matt medium to glue

- Cut outs from a magazine

- Permanent marker

- Acrylic paint

U for Use What You Have | ABC Motivation Art Journal Page

About this page:

Sometimes we believe that we don't have what we need in order to achieve our goals. I have learned, with most projects I have undertaken, that sometimes you actually need a lot less than what you thought you would to achieve something. And in those cases I also realized that I already had what I needed to start and finish the projects.... Have you ever felt that way about a project/task you have undertaken?

Supplies used:

- Recycled paper with leftover paint

- Matt medium to glue

- Acrylic paint

- Permanent marker

T for Take The Leap | ABC Motivation Art Journal Page

About this page:

For a lot of us the unknown is feared, thus when we take actions based on fear we usually regret them. Thus taking the leap into the unknown whenever possible, will get us out of the habit of acting out of fear. Since we eliminate the fear of the unknown. We can also change it into excitement and curiosity and even a new learning adventure. Are you ready to take the leap?

Supplies used:

- Matt medium to glue

- Recycled paper with leftover paint (used the figure I saw in that paint)

- Permanent markers

- Acrylic paint

- Soft pastels

S for Seek | ABC Motivation Art Journal Page

About this page:

This page is inspired by other psychedelic paintings that i've seen. But because I've read so much about hypnosis, I thought this would fit me better. Also a bit of a fun thing when you are trying to look for something. You can only find it if you seek it out. Thus, seek and you shall find, saw and you shall reap.

Supplies used:

- Black gesso

- Acrylic Paint

- Glitter

- Permanent markers

- Matt medium to glue text paper

R for Return To Innocence | ABC Motivation Art Journal Page

About this page:

After trying out all those different techniques I decided to take it back to basics and to use my first art lesson at school, or just the idea. Sometimes it is fun to play like a child again. When was the last time you got in touch with your inner-child?

Supplies used:

- soft pastels

- Matt medium to seal soft pastels

- Acrylic paint

- Glitter

- Permanent marker

Q for Quitting Is Always An Option | ABC Motivation Art Journal Page

About this page:

Sometimes when we are busy working on certain goals in life, by the time we get halfway there, we start to question ourselves. Do we really want to achieve this goal? Sometimes we forget that we can quit, since it was our decision to start in the first place. So, this page is to remind me that if I no longer enjoy doing something or working towards something, that I can always just pull the plug. When was the last time you pulled the plug on one of your projects?

Supplies used:

- Pencil (for outlining)

- soft pastels

- Matt medium to seal soft pastels

- Old book cover (tip, remove the plastic layer first)

- Water colors

- Glitter