Still Drawing and Coloring

Here's a fun exercise to try - a cubist face!  The instructions are on this great blog from Kathy Barbro:  Art Projects for Kids.  Hey, I'm just a big kid.

ATC

Pencil Crayon

Journal - Book of Days

Oil Pastel

Starting Something New

I have been "drawn" lately to colouring doodles.  I'm not sure why - I've never doodled much before, even in boring meetings!

Journal Page - Book of Days

Pencil Crayon

Micron Pen

Journal Page - Book of Days

Oil Pastel

Journal Page - Book of Days

Oil Pastel

Micron Pen

Comfort

Journal Page in my Book of Days

Pencil crayons, Pigma pens

Stamp by Studio G

Sometimes I take great comfort in Psalm 46 - knowing that I'm not in charge and don't have to be responsible for everything!  Just BE, you know?

I'll Take My Fences One At a Time

I'm enjoying Downton Abbey on public television on Sunday evenings.  My favorite character is the Dowager Countess; she comes out with some priceless lines.  She has inspired this journal page in my Book of Days.

Many Words for Love

Book of Days

My Book of Days morphed this week into a cross between a Smash Book and a Remains of the Day journal when I was once again inspired by Lelainia Loyd and her Fragments of Me 2012 Sketchbook Project.  That's OK -  Effy Wild at the Book of Days journalling project finds her journal morphing into something new and I'm practising my composition and collage skills.  Some of the Christmas cards I received this year were too nice to  toss into the recycling bin and now I can enjoy them all year long.

A couple of weeks ago, just after the snow melted here in Vancouver, my heart turned to spring:

Pan Pastels

Heidi Swapp and Plaid stencils

Prima Christina Renee and Rusty Pickle stamps

What Will the New Year Hold?

New Year's Day is what Effy calls a 'big calendar day'.  Other examples would be Christmas, your birthday, or  other days that you celebrate or are important.  These days get full spread in your Book of Days.

Pan Pastels

Heidi Swapp stencils

Octopede Factory images

Letter to 2011

I'm still catching up on my 2011 preparation for my 2012 Book of Days.  Our instructions from Effy were to write a letter to 2011 and put a pocket or envelope in the front cover of our journal to hold it.  I decided to do a card; inside I'll write the letter.  My word for 2011 was BIGGER.

Masks by Tim Holtz

Spritzed Watercolor

Pan Pastels

Stamps by Hero Arts, Autumn Leaves, Making Memories, Rusty Pickle and ME!

My word for 2012 is "Inspired".

Do I Have Time for This??

Day Two, Book of Days.  Our instructions in yesterday's video were to do a full spread at the beginning of the week describing what is on our mind for the week.

Stencils by Tim Holtz

Stamps by Rusty Pickle

Pan Pastel

What is on my mind is whether I have time for this new program!  But I found if I keep the spread simple with lots of white space (which I'm interesting in experimenting with anyway), I can do a spread in an hour.

What's on your mind this week?

Book of Days

Happy New Year!

In 2012 I'm going to re-energize my art journalling practice by participating in the Book of Days.  There are videos to watch and two or three weekly newsletters, but most importantly for me, the program will give me some structure, some prompts and a reason to keep the practice going.  I'm going to continue to experiment with different styles and mediums, I'm sure, as I continue my struggle to find my own style.



I hope to have some photos of my progress soon.  During the waning days of 2011, Effy made suggestions to pick your word for 2012, to decorate your journal cover and to write letters to 2011 and 2012 for the spreads on the inside front cover.  Earlier today, there was a 2 hour video about the 'big calendar day' spread for January 1, and an introduction to the rest of the program.  I spent the waning days of 2011 coming home from a great vacation in Hawaii, so I don't quite have any of this ready to show you.

What are your plans for 2012?