This blog is a record of my Visual Art Journal Journey; Botanical and Nature observations; Lucky Accidents.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Friday, April 27, 2012
Art Making Opens the Window of My Heart
Window (Envelope) of My Heart pg1 |
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Window (Envelope) of My Heart
Open Window (Envelope) of My Heart4 Recycled window envelope with window colored with alcohol inks, gold marker |
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Dive Deep
Acrylic paint, metallic markers (Office Max), K&Company starfish,
altered photo of water ballet, Big Lots circle stickers, Sharpie Pen
altered photo of water ballet, Big Lots circle stickers, Sharpie Pen
This spread followed my discovery, through processing my dream about the fish out of water, that the "Fifth Element", Love, is the element I seek. Where to turn? Look inside through meditation and art making. Reminds me of a Rumi poem:
"There is a life-force within your soul,
seek that life.
There is a gem in the mountain of your
body, seek that mine.
O traveler, if you are in search of
That
Don't look outside, look inside yourself
and seek That".*
*http://peacefulrivers.homestead.com/Rumipoetry3.html
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Lotuses with Watercolor Pencil
Lotuses with watercolor pencil
Love botanicals and have been working to improve my color layering skill. This is a first attempt with layering--usually draw directly with the watercolor pencil and then add water. I think that some of my lines are too dark but like the yellow and green where it is subtle and the buds on the left. Important to take what one can from each drawing--rather than just tossing out a "failed" drawing take the time to see what works and what doesn't and why. Every time I make a painting I learn new things! This time I found that I could lift color with a wet brush. A technique I have used with traditional watercolor but not as much with watercolor pencils. It is all about the color--and I am glad that this drawing will stay in my journal to reference in the future.
Of course I must mention the beautiful lotus. The lotus reminds us, through the presence of buds, full blossoms and seed pods that there is an endless cycle of life-death-life and all exist in the eternal now.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Visual Art Journal Fish Out of Water Dream Pages
Fish Out of Water Pages 1 & 2
Inktense Watercolor Pencils
In this dream I go to the beach house of a friend because she is getting married. On the beach I find a large orange fish (like a gold fish) lying there. I know that the fish needs to be in water but it looks like a fresh water fish to me---so I don't know what to do. I think if I put the fish in the wrong kind of water (fresh or salt) instead of saving it I will kill it. I put it in a water-filled ditch but it is too small and the water is dirty (perhaps like my apartment which I have been meaning to clean?). I ask questions about myself as the fish: What is my element? Why can't I breathe? Finally I make a picture (while recording the dream) of a fish swimming in it's element. Amazing to me I do not get the "element" reference until I post these pages in "Art Journaling For Women" fb page. I have just been talking about the movie Fifth Element and that Love is the fifth element. I realize that the element that I am seeking is love. These words came to me (the next page I'm going to make): There is an Ocean of Love Inside of You--Dive Deep! I realize that I have been looking outside of myself for my art muse--to the creations of artist friends. Inspiring--but I must connect to my inner artist self to create authentically.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Activating my imaginative life by looking inside...
"Art Garden" Art Journal Pages
Tim Holtz "Tattered Florals" die, newspaper, rusty washers,
scrapbook paper, markers, ink, Inktense watercolor pencils
scrapbook paper, markers, ink, Inktense watercolor pencils
"We're living in a period that I regard as a kind of period of the terminal moraine of mythology. It's as though a lot of mythological rubbish is all around. Mythologies that built civilizations and are no longer working in that way are just in rubble all around us.
"So an individual who puts himself to the task of activating his imaginative life - the life that springs up from inside, not in res...ponse to outside information and commands - that person can find stimulation in this wonderful literature that is pouring into the libraries. Now the world is full of these wonderful things again.
"So there is no rule. An individual has to find what electrifies and enlivens his own heart, and wakes him."
Joseph Campbell, "The Hero's Journey: Joseph Campbell on His Life and Work," p. 133
"So an individual who puts himself to the task of activating his imaginative life - the life that springs up from inside, not in res...ponse to outside information and commands - that person can find stimulation in this wonderful literature that is pouring into the libraries. Now the world is full of these wonderful things again.
"So there is no rule. An individual has to find what electrifies and enlivens his own heart, and wakes him."
Joseph Campbell, "The Hero's Journey: Joseph Campbell on His Life and Work," p. 133
The wonderful images I have been awed by are not "rubbish" they are pure gold, but they are not the gold I must seek inside of me. I need to focus on activating my imaginative life through my own art process, then I will feel more whole and grounded, I think. I need to focus on "the life that springs up from inside, not in response to outside information and commands".
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