Journal Update

I haven’t had much to show off the past couple of months, but I’ve managed to do at least one journal page each week.  Here are some of my favorites.

Imagination, March

Reading, or Storybook.  Also in March

April was all about stars.

Potential, in May

June has been all about music.

Sometimes I get so inspired that a single prompt will end up as two or three pages.  I’m doing everything in PhotoShop Elements now, and sometimes even know how to use the tools correctly! 

If only I could say the same for my other endeavors!

Journal Pages to Share

Back in January, I mentioned joining the Art Journal Caravan (see this post).  This is proving to be a lot of fun, and I am learning a lot.  I’m also spending a lot of time working in my graphics software.  I thought maybe you would like to see some of the pages I’ve created.

These are all from February.  Our “muse” for the month was well-known artists and I really enjoyed studying the artists Manet, Klee, and Picasso – among others.  I’ve forgotten most of the Art History I studied in college, so researching each artist’s work, quotes, and biography was very interesting.  Picasso is still one of my favorites and I tried a portrait of my dog in Picasso’s style . . . or maybe I should call it a PUGcasso!

This month the theme is “Imagination.”  And what fun it is proving to be!  I still have lots of ideas so I may continue this theme into the next one.  Reality can be so boring, so of course the one above is one of my favorite quotes. 

Another one is “Growing old may be mandatory, but growing UP is optional.”

One Word -- Explore

Many artists and crafters (and others I’m sure, but these are the ones I see) like to select one word as a touchstone for the year.  I like the idea, but it can be tricky to find a word that can apply to a whole year.  I mean, I have an attention span of about 5 minutes, so a year is FOR.EV.ER!

Nevertheless, I gave it some thought.  Based on my decision to reduce my stash, I considered words like “Green” or “Recycle.”  They don’t seem inspiring, though.  I ‘tried on’ some generic words – Dream, Create, Focus, Love – nothing rings my bell.

Then I received an ad for the 2014 Art Journal Caravan and the right word came to me.

Explore 

I had to join the Caravan right then and there!  If you’re not familiar with AJC, it’s a combination online class, journaling group, and community hosted by Tangie Baxter at ScrapbookGraphics.com (SBG).  She provides journaling prompts, collage elements, and guidance for a year of creative experiences.

This is the first journal page I created.  I chose this word because I want 2014 to be a year of exploring new experiences, learning new skills, and exploring new ways to do ‘old’ things – like using up a stash!  This can apply to many aspects of my life, not just the creativity.

This week, my explorations led me into the mechanics of navigating the SBG forums and uploading pictures, as well as an introduction into digital journaling.  Well, visual journaling anyway, since blogging is definitely a form of journaling!  At first it was quite a maze, but I am finding my way and can’t wait to continue.

Today’s page.  A reminder to take a breath and enjoy the journey.

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Page credits

Explore:  map fragment, hot air balloon, book courtesy of thegraphicsfairy.com; all other elements, courtesy of tangie baxter

Nature does not hurry: Snowflake background = rubber stamp on painted paper; Quote, gold splatter, foreground tree = tangiebaxter, Art Journal Caravan January ’14 Collection; Background trees = Death to Stock Photos, Cozy collection; Bird silhouettes = courtesy of vectorolie/FreeDigitalPhotos.net