I admit that today was a little too packed with wrapping duty to indulge in making journal pages. So I am reviewing pages shown on my blog from the past two years where I used some red. It was really fun to scroll back through my own blog!
Lots of red around the home, in the wardrobe, on the tree. I love that it is everywhere....all the way until Valentines Day!
Took a break from writing out cards....did some quick painting in my Ruby Tuesday journal.
Had two unexpected surprises arrive in the mail, I'm a Lucky Girl! Catherine gifted me with these PMC charms that she makes. She is a master at silversmithing and if I lived near her I would sign up for her classes in a heartbeat. Thank you Catherine, these are precious.
And from Cindi - this girl Gets Me too. I had to wear this today, even though it was 50 degrees. I wish you could see how soft it is, and the deep rich color of red and black. Perfect perfect perfect. Thanks Cindi. Heartagram hugs to you.
I often get asked about what kind of acrylic paint I use. My answer: the cheap stuff. Those who have taken classes with me know that I like to tease the *paint snobs* who only use Golden. Don't get me wrong, that stuff is wonderful but for journaling purposes I have found it makes me crabby. My pages stick to each other. Nothing is more frustrating than to see a student work really hard on a great spread then suffer heartbreak when the pages stick together. Give me the cheap stuff. In my opinion, you can be more reckless and smather surfcaes with a abandon when you are working with less precious materials. Golden (and other pricier brands) are lovely and appropriate for use in finer art but when you are playing around on pages I say go cheap.
Even the gesso I use is cheap - student grade, from Pearl. $4.99 a quart.
I've also been asked about the scraping. Similar to *dirty brushing*, is *dirty scraping*. I covered some brushing effects in Crusade No. 29 where I point out that using two colors of paint on a brush makes for a more interesting surface coverage than a single color. That's what I call dirty brushing. The same can be done with scraping. Pour out some gesso and acrylic colors onto a paper plate. Dip your old credit card or scraping device into several colors and drag across the surface. Be light handed and random. Dip and scrape. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Let dry. Do some more. As your surface gets built up with paint you'll see some terrific textures emerge.
I am really loving this scraping and may end up leaving this as another unfinished page. Sometimes my journal pages are simply studies that can inform future work, like on canvas. When stamping out Rose Hips below I notice the letters are nearly equal to Promises, which is what the little seed pods are, aren't they?
I treasure the memory, from many Springs ago, of coloring pussy willow buds with pastel chalks. Not sure why I thought of willows in winter.... maybe because I'm on a roll of creating stencils and masks of natural things.
I meant to post about this yesterday - Somerset Studio 2010 Calendar, I'm the March girl. I will give one away, drawing on Monday morning. Want one? Leave a comment to enter.
A reminder that registration for workshops at Valley Ridge begins Monday, December 7th at 9:00 am Central Standard Time. Classes filled quickly last year so if you are interested be ready at the keyboard!
The two workshops I am offering: Roll With It, and Parlor Tricks.
Out right now is Artists Cafe No. III from Stampington & Co. They have revisited three of my articles from Somerset Studio, one is an interview I did of friend and favorite artist: Julie Pearson.
And in books - I'm pleased to announce I am in Lynne's book (in stock now at Amazon!) and Bee's book, due in February.
And of course, I can't close without mentioning this: HIM's new single Heartkiller will be released December 8th (check itunes). You can click over to their myspace for a listen tomorrow! Album release date: 2/9/10
I almost missed it! Five minutes until Wednesday. I'm sorry I missed saying Happy Thanksgiving to all....I caught a bug. No, not that one, a different one, and it really knocked me off my feet. Still managed to have a good visit with my parents. Today's pages are about getting prepared spiritually for Christmas. Easy to think about on December first, especially as Advent just started. As the month marches on the pressure tends to build and the meaning can get blurry. Trying to maintain my perspective....putting out the Nativity set is always my first ritual.
I always try to leave at least one thing unfinished in my journal. It helps me to jump right back in when I have the chance to play again. It's a good trick, try it! *wink*
I believe in signs. I have written several times about the *signs* I have for loved ones. I love the connection between *things* and *thoughts of someone*. I love that thinking of someone can be prompted by seeing something unique and specific. That is exactly what Crusade No. 35 is about - What's Your Sign?
Slightly more complicated to explain is what I consider to be *sign transference*. Here's a great example: yesterday my friend Carrie sent me an etsy link to go look at some cute deer. She sees deer and thinks of me because she knows that deer make me think of Shannon. It's a big wide circle of thought....a ripple effect.
Ruby Tuesday pages for this week happen to work for the Crusade too. I have two very special friends *P*, and *E*, who have never met, (yet remind me of each other). Both of them claim the cardinal as the sign for their Grandmother. Because they shared that with me whenever I see a cardinal I think of them. It's all so special, because it widens the circle of thought and remembrance. Sign Transferred. Sure, may not be such a thing....but it makes sense to me *grin*
Ok, so it's not Tuesday, but I worked in my RT journal today. Sunday is my rock star crush's birthday. 11/22 Ville Valo will be 33. Doesn't that portrait stencil rock?
Hyvää Syntymäpäivää! It's going to be an exciting year. The new HIM album comes out in February: Screamworks - Love in Theory and Practice. Thirteen track names have been revealed. Cover art is still a mystery. Our fan friends in Australia and England already have tour dates scheduled. We can't wait to learn about the U.S. tour! The first single will be out soon...and a video? *faints*
Heading into holiday season do you find you set aside your artwork? While I enjoy the preparations and festivities my studio becomes cluttered with gifts and wrappings. This year I have a self-imposed assignment of keeping up with my visual journal, at least on a weekly basis to stay plugged into creativity. I'm going to use my stash of favorite red things that sit in my journal kit. Using them feels good. Making stuff feels good. Dirty hands feels good. Why not try to set aside one morning a week for yourself? I started last week:
My rose bushes don't know what to think. The weather keeps changing. I clip off roses as they enthusiastically dare to appear, not knowing if it will be in the 70s or the 30s. I think this may be the last bud. I'll leave her on and watch her grow.
(for feed readers: click through to see the graphics on this post)
The 2010 schedule for Valley Ridge is now up! Nearly 40 workshops to choose from. Several artists make their debut at VR this season including my friends Judy Wilkenfeld and Laurie Mika. You'll find me there in September. I've posted new buttons in the left sidebar that take you to pages (with class descriptions) on my site for each workshop. Click on the words to take you to the Valley Ridge site for more information and registration which begins December 7th.
Uncle Sam, Jack Skellington, and Snow White are ready. Bring it on! Have a great weekend!
Years ago, my grandfather had received a digital watch as a special gift. He wore it with pride - thinking it was so modern and easy to read. One day I noticed he wasn't wearing it. He couldn't figure out how to adjust the time for daylight savings, so he put it away and planned on getting it back out in the fall. It took me two seconds to 'fix' it for him that April and I promised to 'fix' it again in October. When he died in 1983 there wasn't an opportunity to request a significant keepsake. I would have asked for the watch. Doesn't matter as the memory is still treasured, and revisited every time I turn back the clocks.
Crusade No. 34 ~ Come Over to the Dark Side.....Just playing along in my own challenge :) Got some new brass stencils so what better way to try them out than on black journal pages? Do you do that? Do you try out your new stuff as soon as you get it? Sometimes I just get started by making blackgrounds that I will add to later. These arrived last week from Heritage Handcrafts and I finally got to give them the test drive. Loving them!
Fallon even got out her journal to paint a few pages. Aren't they cool? We sat at the table while watching Castle. Did you see his costume? Perfect as Poe!
Need a way to store your brass stencils? These little photo albums keep them nicely organized. For those of you who know I spray paint alot.....yes, I do spray through the brass ones but only if I have two copies of an image. One I save for acrylic, ink, and dry embossing, and one is the designated spray stencil. It's too hard to clean off the spray so I just let those ones get all mucky.
One week left to play in the crusade. Come on over......
Just reflecting on the past weekend....and I am feeling so fulfilled. It's an amazing thing to have an idea, to visualize it, to nurture it, to explore it, and then finally, to share it. Stairway to Heaven is a workshop concept I have lived with for over a year. It's been like holding a secret. I got to reveal it not once but twice to an awesome group of women. Some were new-to-me friends, some were veteran favorites. They ALL ROCKED. It was thrilling to see them take on this project, each with their own flair. As an instructor you commit yourself to presenting something new and fresh, and hope it takes hold and provides a platform for growth. You endeavor to teach *process*, disguised as a *project*. You put yourself out there, hoping that their greatest take-away is enthusiasm for creativity.
I don't take it lightly that artists choose to spend their time and money on a workshop with me. I consider it an honor that the time they set aside to commit to art is with me. While I hope to fuel, or re-fuel them, they most definitely re-fuel me. Their presence, their eagerness to work, and the results that follow offer me validation on many levels. I am so grateful.
Unplanned, there was a word I latched onto and repeated during class: commit. It was the perfect prompt at the time, as I tried to encourage students to commit to a color palette, commit to a page shape and arrangement, to commit to adding content. It was appropriate then, and when you think about it, it is the best way to continue moving forward as you build a book, or work on a painting or collage or whatever it is you do. Small steps, small commitments, inform and direct the following steps, the following choices. You make a decision and it opens up the possibilities to what happens next. Mistakes may occur but that is where the real learning often takes place. It is in making commitments that you evolve.
There were a few jokes about *fear of commitment* but it was all in fun. I'm sure there were moments we could have asked to be *committed*. They did commit big time by creating really wonderful, special, unique books. They committed by making time for art and friendship, and by sharing in the creative process as we all learned things from one another. That's what happens in workshops. ESPECIALLY at Valley Ridge. We all extend our thanks to Kathy and Bill for their commitment to providing this spectacular venue where magic takes place. I'm certain there is fairy dust in the air.
How cool is that? You see my cute little Mom? She committed a weekend to join us in the fun!
Right now I am committing time to wrap up my proposals for 2010 at VRAS. I am psyched for the ideas that are channeling in. I am giddy about going back next September. The workshop schedule will be posted soon, I'll let you know when to hop over for a look.
Thank you ladies, for your commitment. You have gifted me with energy and validation and satisfaction and fulfillment. I am a lucky girl to have climbed the Stairway to Heaven with you.
I love old embossed metal. Love the grungy shabby chippy remnants from past eras. Check out these cool items from Annette. Isn't she clever to take these relics and turn them into new pieces? Discarded tin being repurposed....and they even come with hooks so they are ready to hang. Her Etsy site is here: CottageInTheSun.
I have had this ceiling tin hanging in my studio for years as inspiration. I just discovered it holds magnets! HCIT? (Ceramic rose magnets were found online....just can't remember where I got them!) The items below it aren't old....they are probably from Michaels or TJ Maxx. I can't resist affordable metal stuff.
I've been meaning to try embossing metal myself, but have never armed myself with the proper tools. (Lisa is really good at it and steps way out of the box with her tools.) Someday I will take the plunge over at Ten Seconds Studio and drop a wad on some supplies. I did develop a class on making faux ceiling tiles from paper and paint that is in the files somewhere. Here's the photo:
I never taught that class but I use the technique alot...in fact, here is a page from my Stairway to Heaven book (sneak peek):
Love faking out the embossed look with stuff I already have. Sa-wooon!
* the post title is the name of my favorite HIM album. i crack myself up ;)
Friday I met with friends Lynne and Beryl to see the Barron Storey journals at The Society of Illustrators in New York. First, it was really cool to experience the work with fellow artists. Second, it was even cooler to witness a light-bulb moment in a complete stranger who walked into the exhibit having no idea what it was about, who Mr. Storey is, and what visual journals are. She was compelled to ask me about it all and was lamenting her commitment to lunch with friends in a few short minutes as she really wanted to stay and page through alongside us. THAT is pure evidence of how intriguing it is to look through someone's pages.
This man presents 30 something years of work in 100 journals, laying open with the invitation to leaf through. He is a master illustrator - in pencil, in ink, and with paint. Some pages were simply sketches, others were complex and layered with both imagery and text. Some looked like fine art paintings, others were comic book/graphic novel style - there were pages filled with thumbnail sketches, lists, architectural elements, costumes, faces, abstract doodles - he is skilled with any mark-making tool....and has an immense visual vocabulary. If you pause long enough on any given page you are granted a direct line into his thoughts and perspective, relative to the entry made that day. This event was such a unique experience to be allowed access to every single page. It was personal, it was moving, it was a gift, it was a privilege. There is a publication, a reprint of Life After Black, available at the venue which documents Journal #45. I appreciate having the evidence of this adventure to take home.
Many of us are familiar with how journal pages look as seen in a book or magazine, or on a blog. Seeing visual journals in Real Life is way different. There is something so cool about observing DIMENSION that can't be caught in print. Color, scale, texture, metallics, shiny or dull bits can all be misinterpreted by the camera or scanner. I recall the thrill of being in my first collaboration of art journals. Seeing, touching, turning the pages on work that wasn't my own was an incredible learning experience. If you've ever paged through someone else's journal then you know what I mean. There is so much more to a page than what is captured on film. It's a magical thing to hold a book of art in your hands. Magic.
If you live in the NYC area get your plans made to see this event. It ends July 31st.
This would be the mother of all reveals, if one were keeping score. I thought I was going to skulk off into the sky, flying back to Minnesota, carrying with me the cloud of grief, but instead I will be carrying this Book of Love, to share with my family. How does one go about finding and composing the most apt words to convey how you have made me feel? You obviously know me well enough to know I am utterly moved. Picture me surrounded with rays of light, casting a pink glow. Both eyes filled with tears. One for sorrow, one for joy.
I will let the photos do the talking. Special thanks to Secret Agents JeriAnn, Julie, and Lisa who schemed and plotted and gathered a generous, thoughtful, loving, talented team of participants. I thank you all for the quiet, gentle embrace. I feel you.
Julie has loaded the pages onto flickr, you can visit HERE.
I know, can you imagine? I'm blown away too.
I am missing Shannon so much, but look how many art-sisters I have (plus an art-brother, Seth). A swarm of angels. I've said it before: You make grief endurable. With humble gratitude, Michelle.
Tomorrow is the last day for the current GPP Street Team Crusade. We've been Making It Our Own and many artists have come by to share their inspiration and interpretations as we strive to add an authentic and personal touch to all that we do. Often we turn to custom tools to keep things original and unique - like carved stamps or cut stencils. There have been many times where I have created an element simply because it didn't exist and I needed/wanted it. THAT is how I began designing and selling rubber stamps. I made images I wanted to have that weren't available yet.
As you know, we are huge HIM fans in this house. I have an entire drawer of HIM shirts, at least 5 hoodies, several bags, and countless accessories with heartagrams thanks to Hot Topic, Spencers, Heartagram.com, and concerts. In the early days there was not alot of merchandise with the heartagram on it....so we had to Make Our Own.
I carved these stamps and we used them with fabric paint or even cooler: bleach, to make tshirts and stuff. I cut stencils too. And the heartagram pendant came by request of Peter and his friends (they all wanted one), made from pink wire. It's awfully primitive but pretty cool of me don't you think?
A couple summers ago I made these for my NJ/NY HIM Street Team. Super quick and easy and inexpensive. Great party favor.
The heartagram selections at Hot Topic these days are kinda scarce again until the new album comes out (too long from now!) so I may have to go back to Making My Own HIM merch. (Very closely related to Make It Your Own is Do It Yourself!) Stop in at the Street Team to see what we are doing....and then come back later in the week to see the new challenge and play along with us.
Serendipity, synchronicity, coincidence.....I pay attention and feel like I'm in tune to the meaning of what happens around me. I look for connections, significance, in art-making and in life. Not long ago Lisa pointed me toward these books. Mr. Rushnell is my kind of guy. He not only identifies with my favorite, *winks*, but he takes the position that they are God-sent. I'll buy that.
This month my friend Kathryn posted to her True North Arts blog about serendipity and synchronicity, and the role it plays in the creative process. I was honored to be an invited guest - you can read her interview with me HERE. She then challenged her readers to invent a compass. I didn't have the time to create something this month, but in my studio overhaul I came across a portfolio of old sketches. Synchronicity! Check out my compasses.
This doesn't really count as an entry to her challenge, but the message is timely....especially as our oldest has just graduated. The deadline for Kathryn's prompt is Friday, therefore I'm not-so-timely in directing you her way. Don't let that stop you. There is alot to read and think about over there, and I'm certain she has more up her sleeve with future projects.
We melted today. 95* is too hot for April. At least it didn't rain and I could do a little spraying.
I love collecting type from magazines but I don't really care what it says. I will scudge up these pages tomorrow with some sandpaper and then spray paint so they look like decaying posters often seen on random surfaces in New York. This Walls Notebook is perfect for that.
I confess, I've put up a few posters myself - although it's been a while since my HIM Street Team sniped in the city. We need a new album so we can launch a crusade. Here's some old Evidence. Kat didn't mind getting the heartagram sticker...she's a fan.
Speaking of crusades, No. 30 is coming to an end. We are discussing journaling in your journal with Cat Got Your Tongue? Come play before it's over!
Finished up a few pages - loving my new carved thorns. Making tools and using them. Very fulfilling. Yes, I keep re-visiting this quote. It's a fave. Yes, I keep re-using the same colors. They are faves. After mentioning that I wear my palette I realize I live in my palette too. Yep - even have red walls, sage and mustard too. No, I don't have black walls....just black furniture :)
Made an evidence page of my find - even took a rubbing of the sole. Thanks for all your comments about my boots! I've been wearing them every day. I haven't worn suede boots in years - loved those slouchy pixies from my DD* days and wish I still had them as Fallon is dressing in 80s fashion this week at school. Tomorrow is the Frankie Says Relax shirt. (It's a repro from Target....my signed-by-the-band original T is retired from wear.) *duranduran
Evidence of a Lucky Girl: This perfect cup arrived from Carin - she gets me ;) And Theresa gave me the heads up on the scrabble thing - Xs & Os glued into place, which I scooped up from ETSY: RememberMeEmily. And how about that cute card from Sam? Priceless.
One week to go on the current Crusade. After Shaping Up, we are now practicing Portion Control. What I am talking about? Come see! Lots of crusaders have already shared their interpretations - so fun to learn from one another as we all try something at the same time. Congrats to Cath Sheard for being the most recent Top Hat Pick.
Do you tear off the used postage from your holiday cards every year like I do? It's a habit I started years ago, and I'm happy to admit I have stashes of lovely stamps to use in my art. I'll take yours if you don't want them. Really. Tear off the corner, and save it for me. P.O.Box 73, Piscataway, NJ 08854
Tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. Central Standard Time, registration begins for the workshops at Valley Ridge. It's the only place I have committed to teach at for next year. If you are thinking of taking the class with me you might want to save your used postage, right now, and tuck it away until October.
When I have alot to get done I tend to procrastinate. I actually think it's part of my creative process. Sometimes I'll take up a mini-self-imposed-project that is totally unrelated to an article I should be writing and yet somehow it feeds me enough to get my thoughts focused and the words fall into place. I've been at the computer which presents a great tempation - not for surfing, but for messing around in photoshop. It's kinda related to my article, kinda.
You can see the photo I started with above. Then I made about 17 variations - all part of my self-teaching and keeping up with PS skills, but really, a procrastination. It's ok, I learned a few things today, even if I didn't get everything crossed of my list.
The party was a success - a perfectly ordered thunderstorm added to the aura. I will take more photos on the 31st as I didn't do the best documentation of Saturday. Thanks for chiming in on Fallon's costume and make-up rehearsal. Like a 13-yr-old, she didn't take advice from ANY of us but was adorable.
X and O were my partners in crime for a while. Of course x and o would eventually take you to tic-tac-toe, right? Then onto checkerboard.....the scale made me think of the chess punch, and soon I was channeling new ideas which required new tools. Here's the visual story:
Oh, let me take a moment to recognize that this is my 300th post. When I noticed I had just hit 100 on the Street Team blog I checked the count over here and it was at 299. Wow! Dear readers, this platform, my blog, helps me define who I am - and it cleared the path to meet you. What's that saying? It's out on the limb where you gather the fruit. I ventured out and you served the fruit. Thank you.
Back to chess.....like WAY BACK. Making these new tools was like revisting old friends. For nearly ten years I have incorporated chess pieces in my work. Here's some of the visual history:
Love shopping at tjmaxx, marshalls and home goods. There are several that are dangerously close to everything. This weeks score was a journal. Cheap thrill. And how about these pins? What? Your first stop at the mall isn't Hot Topic? Usually it's our only destination.
It's time to read up on how to handle the seasonal change with my lovely rose bushes. I'm clueless and need to figure out what I need to do asap. It has brought me such simple pleasure to go visit my roses every day and I want to keep them safe for next year. Any hints?
My cousin Molly sent me this book, 90 minutes in heaven, and suggested I read chapter 2. I admit I have not read the rest of the book. All I needed to hear was Don Piper's account of heaven to give me a rush of peace and comfort. Sure, I trusted that heaven was the kingdom it is promised to be, but his words came at the right time for me. He describes, in simple words, what it was like to enter heaven. My take-away is that there are no words yet invented to express the immense joy ahead of us. My take-away, from this one chapter, was to be thrilled that my sister is there. Thank you Molly, for this precious gift, for this perspective. Another book I have found helpful is Surviving the Death of a Sibling. Grief takes on many faces and it is different for all of us, even within one family. Shannon was a wife, a daughter, a friend - but she was also my sister.
Love my jumbo size Sharpie paint pens. Messing around with them makes me really happy. Love when they smear. The nib on these things are 1/2" wide! Get some!!
And the braces are off! Look at this lovely face. I promised Fallon I wouldn't blog about her new *friend* (Anthony)....I'm not. He may have been edited from the photo, but the blush he provoked is there. Does that still get me in trouble? *wink*
Congratulations to Kathryn Antyr for being the Top Hat Pick for Crusade No. 23. It's our second anniversary at the Street Team blog!
*Throws confetti on self*.
Same subject, same colors. I like a limited palette. It gives me the opportunity to explore textures and shapes without being distracted by color choices. There is truth to less is more.
Love the Jill Penney and Daniel Torrente images from Stampotique, don't you? Circle stamps and large alphabet (HUG) from GPP.
It was back in June that I shared my journal work spinning a "+" into an "x". See {positive spin}. Now "x" has a new friend, meet "o". Duh, right?
My ritual is to collect and create supplies and then process the palette (or in this case shapes) on journal pages. If it clicks I will have filled up many pages and will take what I've learned onto other surfaces. What started with an xoxo stamp from the dollar bin ended up as a full arsenal of custom tools: stamps, masks and stencils. I saw that x next to that o and I was toast. Hyper-focus designing new tools was my mission, and trying them out in the journal was a satisfying reward.
Because we had terrific weather this week I was able to move my studio outside and spray with abandon, completing six painted canvases where x meets o. A peek at the canvas work:
When you want a little something different to bring to your art: make new tools. When you can't find a supply that you need: make new tools. When you want to create authentic and original art: make new tools. xoxo
I've adored the maltese cross for years. I wear one every day. I play with the image often in my work, and you've seen it show up in my own carvings and my rubber line. Because I tend to be linear, and literal, I never considered the 45 degree variation of the "+" to make it a "x". You'll see I went nuts experimenting with my new perspective. Anytime I discover a form or shape I invest a little time making new tools....
And more unfinished pages....sometimes it just feels good to get something started on the page. It's a process to make additions to a painted background....it can take days to complete, or it may always stay as an experimental background.
I'm taking an a quick trip home to see my sister. Squeeze your eyes tight and spin those positive vibes and prayers our way. Take a deep breath and appreciate what your healthy lungs can do. Shout and sing on the 4th of July....because you can. And never forget to wink and whisper sweet somethings to your loved ones. xoxo
