Tag: art journals

Posted on in art, events, ideas, Inspiration, journals, Life, New Work, Process, Shows and Projects, studios, travel

awesome april (day 30) – i did it my way

ATC 38 23(Grace) 23 SeriesI set a challenge for myself this month to post on my blog daily, and this, my friends, is the final post for the month of April 2014.   I did it!

There were days that were a lot more inspiring than others, some very exciting with good news to share, and others that I just didn’t feel so motivated about.  But I’ve found that this has been a really good exercise for me — it has kept me focused each day, because I knew I would need to share something interesting each day with you.

Just like my journals, my blog posts are a good resource for me to see what was going on in my life at a particular time.

An overview of this month’s posts:

  • I have gotten to share some of my visual journals with you, which until this month I hadn’t published online. Posting on my blog daily has encouraged me to finish some of those journal pages that I had started but had been dragging my feet on finishing.   See awesome april posts # 18 22, 23, 25 and 27 for new journal entries, and I have a new visual journals page that I’ve been adding to all month.
  • I shared things that inspire me along the way(days # 5, 6, 7, 14,  20, 28) and the advice I would give to my artist self 20 years ago (#16).
  • My trip to Europe is officially on the books, which is something I’ve wanted to do for a while.  It’s been 10 years since I traveled overseas, so I’m happy to have something fantastic to look forward to next year.  jens studio 3
  • You got a few glimpses into my studio (day # 10, 15, 26, 28),  and the studio of my friend Jennifer Cowley (day #2).  I also shared a few of my art friends (day #11 and # 24), as well as some of my students’ work in progress (day #3).
  • I’ve had a great month getting my work out there.  I revealed the news that I was selected to complete a public art mural for McKinney this spring. ( I’m still waiting on a start date, and I’ll keep you all posted on the latest  developments with that project). Meanwhile, I’ve also sold a few paintings this month, and been selected for a juried show.

Thanks to all of you who have been reading my blog this month, and to my new ‘followers.’  As always, I’d love to have comments from you on any of the posts.

Here’s looking forward to a Maniacal May.

 

Posted on in art, Inspiration, Process

awesome april (day 18) – visual journals

So in yesterdays post, I spoke of how journaling has helped keep me sane through the years.  About twelve years or more ago, I heard about the concept of “art journals.”  I had been doing something similar, but not the the degree of the artist’s I found online – and I was so inspired!  I have always liked collage and text, and this was a great way for me to combine both of them.

Inside -- a journal page from an altered book
Inside — a journal page from an altered book

I began working in an oversized altered book — using gesso to block out a lot of the images and text on the pages.  In it, I collaged photographs of Greek and Roman sculptures, stained glass windows, and any type of image that I found interesting.  Then I painted, drew and collaged more until the images looked the way I wanted them to.   That book, started in 2004, is still a work in progress.  Some of the pages are complete, and have come out of the book.  But many are still in tact.  Some have just the background started, and others are almost finished — just waiting for that final je ne sais quoi.

456 - another altered book page
456 – another altered book page

A couple of years ago, I discovered spiral-bound sketchbooks that have thick mixed media paper, and are marketed as “visual journals”.  My first one is filled primarily with just doodling.

possible side

a doodle based on one of my paintings
a doodle based on one of my paintings

As I’ve progressed, and I’ve seen my pages get a lot more colorful and painterly, and I’ve collaged a lot more.

My ideal breakfast at Tiffany's
My ideal breakfast at Tiffany’s =  put some art supplies in a pretty turquoise box

 

I have four volumes in progress right now, with volume 1 almost complete, and volume 4 in it’s infancy.  I’ve just added an ART JOURNAL page to the blog, with galleries from each volume.  Stay tuned for more!

My tears...
My tears…