I finally started an Art Journal. I have been talking about doing it for so long. Maybe not here....but I know I've been muttering it to myself for a while anyway. I decided to sign up for Teresa's Write Time Write Place E-zine. I knew I would do it if I signed up for the class. Otherwise, it would be a long talked about pipe dream. The first picture is the Title Page. Once again Teresa stressed simplicity and less is more.....and once again, I disregarded her sage advice and recklessly kept piling more on......but I like it. And, most importantly, I had so much fun doing it. "Careless abandon" fun. "Let me try this. What the Heck" fun. "Hmmmm wonder what would happen if I do that" fun. The kind of fun that stretched me to step out of my carefully constructed comfort zone and stumble across some work within myself that I would have never otherwise discovered.
Now, if it looks like I'm channeling someone in my work....you're right. It's this artist.......Corey Moortgat. I had come across this book The Art of Personal Imagery a while back and I finally purchased it. I love it. Her work is so fabulous....her journals are so beautiful. I am inspired by just holding this book.
Between the journal class and this book, it's really pushing me to try new things and experiment with my style. The page below is still a work in progress. I need to add some journaling and maybe a few things here and there........
The next page is my favorite. I had so much fun working on this one.......I'm really trying to be comfortable with the term "artist". When do you know you're an artist? Or, more importantly, for me, when am I ready to call myself one? I think that's what I'm going to explore with this journal........
In funny unrelated non art news....... Conversation between Carlos and his friend in the backseat of the van on the way home from school:
Carlos: Mommy....me and Christian decided that we weren't going to fight any more about things and we weren't going to yell at each other that way we can be better friends.
Me: Wow...I'm pretty impressed with you two. (thinking to myself: The West Bank has a better chance of peace treaty than these two)
Carlos: Yeah we made an agreement. Right, Christian.
Christian: Whaaat. What. No, I didn't.....
Carlos: (voice rising) Christian! Yes we did!! We're not going to yell!! (he said....yelling)
Christian: (yelling) Carloooos! I'm just saying I didn't agree!!! I'll do it.....but I didn't agree!!!!
Carlos: Mooooommmmyyyy!!!! He's not agreeing!!!!
Christian: (very loudly) Yes I am!!!!
Carlos: Ok! Then let's shake on it. (they do very intricate and complicated handshake that apparently prohibits them from yelling at each other ever again.....)
Carlos: Isn't that a great idea we came up with mommy?
Me: Yes, honey.......(I give it another 5 minutes....handshake or no handshake)
